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My name is Thandi Chimurenga and I am a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist. I’m writing to you to ask for your financial assistance with my latest project: covering the trial of the killer of Renisha McBride in Detroit, MI.

Most stories of Black womens' lives are disappeared in the media. This includes the stories of how we die. We are constantly reminded of the murders of Black men and boys at the hands of white racists, whether they pose as law enforcement or as individuals - and we should be reminded of it. But we are also reminded by the deaths of Renisha and Aiyana Jones in Detroit, Aleasia Thomas in LA, Rekia Boyd in Chicago, and the criminalization of Marissa Alexander in Florida that Black women are not safe either.

I seek to tell the story of how and why Renisha McBride died on the morning of November, 2, 2013 because I believe it is important. I hope that you think its important also and that you will help me with this task.

McBride was shot and killed as she stood on Ted Wafer's porch around 5 a.m. on November 2, 2013. The 54-year old Wafer says he heard "banging" on his front door and, thinking someone was trying to break into his home and in fear for his life, opened his front door to confront the alleged intruder. McBride had been involved in a car accident that morning; she had been out partying with friends and had consumed both alcohol and marijuana. Witnesses on the scene of her car accident observed that McBride may have also been suffering from a head wound. Her family thinks she had been knocking on Wafer's door for help. Wafer admits that he shot the 19-year old McBride, at first claiming self-defense and then later, saying the gun actually discharged. Wafer has been charged with 2nd degree murder and manslaughter and he is scheduled to go on trial July 21st, 2014. The trial is expected to last about three weeks. 

Being away from home on a temporary basis is expensive, no matter where in the world it is - that's a no brainer: travel, housing, transportation, meals. But in this trial as in the trial of Oscar Grant's murderer, the transcripts - the sworn-to testimony spoken by the witnesses - will be invaluable in terms of actually documenting the trial, as well as critque for inconsistencies and outright lies. According to the Wayne County Clerk's Office, "In the absence of a Court Order, monetary deposits are required before transcript requests can be processed. The following deposits apply for all cases: $50.00 per Motion/Hearing date | $100.00 per Evidentiary Hearing date | $200.00 per Trial date..." 

And then, there are the actual fees for those transcripts ...

The last time I asked for – and received – your help was to publish my first book ‘No Doubt: The Murder(s) of Oscar Grant, my analysis/documenting of the trial of Johannes Mehserle which I covered in 2010.  I don’t know if I’ll be doing a book on this trial yet. What I do know is that independent, grassroots analysis and reporting should be done and made accessible for our community.

Will you help me do this? Please go to:

http://www.gofundme.com/tedwafertrial

ANY and ALL amounts you can donate will help. 

Thank you!

Thandi

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