An antiviolence group in New York says an alleged murderer accused of cackling while slaughtering a USPS worker should be spared jail because she is a transgender woman of color.
Jaia Cruz, 24, has been charged with the Jan. 2 murder of USPS employee Ray Hodges, 36.
The two got into an argument after Hodges accused her of cutting in the sandwich line at Joe’s grocery store in the Bronx.
“I hope he’s MAGGOT food,” Cruz, 24, told detectives in a recorded statement, according to court documents obtained by N.Y. Daily News. ‘I killed him laughing. Oh, well. I will be on his grave. ‘
But now the New York City Anti-Violence Project has argued that Cruz should not be locked up pending trial because of the threats she could face in prison because of her gender identity and race.
“Jaia is accused of a terrible crime,” the group wrote on Facebook. “And she deserves the safety of the jail at Rikers, as well as access to bail.”
The group, led by Audacia Ray, said Cruz has suffered violence on the streets of New York before.
“Last summer, video of her being brutally beaten in the street in full daylight posted on social media,” the statement added.
An anti-violence group in New York says murder accused Jaia Cruz should be granted bail because of the threat of violence against her as a trans woman of color
Cruz, 24, has been charged with the Jan. 2 murder of Ray Hodges, 36
“In the week since the incident, media accounts have wrongly tormented, mocked, and dehumanized Jaia Cruz in a blatant display of cis-supremacy, misogynoir, and transmisogyny.”
The group highlighted statistics that claim trans women of color are highly vulnerable to violence behind bars.
Cruz has pleaded not guilty to Hodges’ murder and is being held without bail.
Prosecutors say she fatally stabbed the mailman after they had an argument in line at the deli.
Hodges began shouting homophobic slurs and punched Cruz three times before pulling the knife, according to court documents.
“I spit on him because he called me AF-T,” Cruz’s confession reads. ‘I called him a dirty monkey. You said hurtful words, so I said hurtful words to you.
“I told him, ‘You come to me and I will kill you,’” Cruz reportedly told investigators. ‘No Motherf-RS is not going to put it in my hands anymore.
Cruz claimed she “blacked out” during the altercation at Joe’s Grocery in Manhattan
She pleaded not guilty and was taken into custody
The New York City Anti-Violence Project, led by Audacia Ray, said Cruz has suffered violence on the streets of New York before
“He tried to mess with me because I’m trans and I hit him.”
Hodges was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where he later died.
Cruz has insisted she “is black” during the fight.
“My crazy has no rhyme or rhythm,” Cruz told prosecutors. “I told him, ‘If you raise your hands, I’m going to stick you in the F–King Jugular.’ You attack me. ‘
Witnesses suggested Cruz appeared to be high or intoxicated at the time and said they tried to intervene, but neither side would return.
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