On August 18th 2006, while seven African American lesbians were walking down the street in the West Village, a male bystander assaulted them with sexist and homophobic comments. The women tried to defend themselves, and a fight broke out. Thus began the women’s nightmare for almost a year. Three of the women accepted plea offers.

On June 14th, 2007 Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20), and Renata Hill (24) received sentences ranging from 3.5 to 11 years in prison.

On Monday, June 23rd, 2008, Terrain Dandridge’s case was overturned, all her charges were dropped and her record has been cleared. Renata Hill is awaiting a new trial. Terrain Dandridge and her mother, Kimma Walker arrived in the Bay Area on Tuesday June 24th, 2008 to meet with Angela Davis and the queer community at the San Francisco Women’s Building. The public event took place Tuesday, June 24th, from 7-9 pm and was intended to unravel the experiences of violence that queer people of color face and how to prepare ourselves and our communities in the face of police harrassment, criminalization and mass incarceration.

Sponsors of the event included: Critical Resistance, LAGAI-queer insurrection, QUIT!-Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism, SF Women Against Rape, OLOC, Radical Women, and Gay Shame SF.

Read More | NY Indymedia: Lesbians sentenced for self-defense | All-white jury convicts Black women | Justice For The NJ4 | Black lesbian in NYC get 11 years for self-defense | BrownFemiPower.com