By Mason Soto & Marta Tahja-Syrett
Candles and flowers shrouded a framed portrait of Yvonne McDonald at a vigil in her honor on Aug. 23. More than a hundred people came to commemorate her life and demand justice for the circumstances of her death.
The vigil was one of many recent events in Olympia organized by family and friends of Yvonne, a 56 year old black woman found injured and near death on the morning of August 7 a few blocks from her home.
A march to City Hall on September 6 demanded action from Olympia Police Department (OPD), after Yvonne’s family voiced concerns of being left without answers and clear communication from investigators. Tension between the family and police heightened after Yvonne’s niece and key organizer Talauna Reed was arrested by Thurston County Sheriff Department on charges that have since been dropped.
The family has continued to seek an inquest regarding Yvonne’s cause of death, which, if granted, will ensure a jury deliberates the case.
“I go on and on, and on and on,” the crowd sang along with Erykah Badu’s “On & On,” blasted on speakers at the vigil in West Central Park. Talauna Reed led the event, and she said “On and On” was one of her aunt’s favorite songs. Talauna has helped organize these events under a Facebook page, “Justice For Yvonne McDonald.” After the vigil closed, folks gathered the flowers and laid them along the road where Yvonne was found.
Talauna and others close to Yvonne are concerned with the city’s initial treatment of the investigation, alleging that in the month since her death, local justice departments have downplayed and neglected this case despite what they see as obvious signs of violence. Flyers and handbills printed for the events describe “obvious racial bias” from OPD for not treating the case as a homicide until there was pressure from the community to do so.
At the vigil, Olivia Hart spoke about Yvonne’s passion for justice and the way the investigation tried to minimize her death. Hart was a friend of Yvonne’s from their time as students at The Evergreen State College. “It is unconscionable to me that a women of color in this city was treated in such a manner,” said Hart. “This is racial hate and we need to call it that.” She said if it were anyone else’s death, Yvonne would be there to advocate for them.
Statements on the Justice for Yvonne McDonald page allege that her shoes and purse were placed next to her when she was found.
On Aug. 17, the City of Olympia released a statement which said Yvonne was “partially clothed” when first responders got to her. Speakers at the events said that the medical technicians and nurses who cared for her in her last hours were convinced that a violent attack had taken place. Her injuries have been described as bruises and scratch marks across her body, including on her inner thighs and neck. The City’s statement confirms that she died at Providence St. Peters Hospital that evening.
Other issues brought up at the vigil and the march included the limited number of detectives involved in the case and “inconsistent” communication between investigators and McDonald’s family members. Speakers noted they believe McDonald is being portrayed by the city and media in a way that causes people to feel unsympathetic towards her death through alluding to addiction and houselessness. While organizers have made it clear they do not think these accusations are true, they insisted neither McDonald’s race nor her class should determine if her death gets swept under the rug — McDonald’s death deserves a thorough and accountable investigation without bounds. One particular flyer compared the reaction from Yvonne’s death to the extensive coverage and investigation of the recent Thurston County cat killings, which have left thirteen cats dead. With the cat deaths gaining a $36,000+ reward for information, ten detectives, and national media attention — including a New York Times article — organizers allege that the City and Thurston County is more devoted to solving cat murders than to gathering more information about the suspicious death of an African-American woman.
Thurston County Coroner’s Office has already performed an autopsy, but according to a statement from OPD Chief Ronnie Roberts on the City’s website, the toxicology reports “are expected to take months.” The Coroner’s Office has not given a cause of death, but call the circumstances “suspicious” in their press release.
For the march on September 6, called “Make Some Noise For Yvonne!”, a large crowd of people gathered at Percival Landing Park to honor McDonald, share memories of her, and demand an inquest by taking to the streets and protesting outside Olympia City Hall.
Talauna Reed was noticeably absent from the march, and posts on the Justice For Yvonne page describe a whirlwind of questionable interactions between her and local Justice Departments, which she sees as direct targeting in relation to her campaign for Yvonne. Thurston County Sheriff Deputies came to Talauna’s place of business to arrest her on September 2 for violating no-contact orders from her ex-husband. She alleges that deputies called her a liar and made it clear they knew who she was. They spoke to her lawyer on the phone, who explained the arrest was not warranted, but they arrested her still. She was held in jail for three days before being released on personal recognizance.
Talauna was arrested a second time the day before the march on a similar charge, and this meant, as an update from the Facebook page says, “the most outspoken member of the family has been effectively prevented from attending and speaking her part.”
During these arrests, Talauna’s ex-husband attempted to use the arrests as reason for custody change, and because of the multiple arrests he was granted an order of protection to keep her away from her two children.
In an order from an emergency hearing sent to Talauna’s lawyer from the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office and Superior Court, Reed was cleared of any wrongdoing from the two arrests, and the charges were dismissed, but she still has had to pay fees and close her business while in jail. Had the charges not been dropped, the two felony charges would have jeopardized her custody of her children, and she is still dealing with the effects of this custodial interference.
The Cooper Point Journal is awaiting the release of public documents concerning the open investigation into Yvonne’s death and Talauna’s recent arrests.
Prior to the march to City Hall, hand-painted signs were passed out as vehicles driving by honked and waved in support. As more of Yvonne’s family arrived, the crowd prepared for its march to City Hall, and five cops on bicycles began to follow. Chants began to ring out, overpowering the sound of downtown Olympia. Protesters walked past buildings, drawing downtown shoppers’ eyes onto the procession and the informative handouts organizers were passing out. At first protestors took to one side of the street but, as the march proceeded, they began to flow into both lanes. Key organizers, wearing brightly-colored vests, stood before intersections to notify drivers of the march’s presence, and there was little to no confrontation with cars. Soft pink banners and cardboard signs waved in the heat of the afternoon, and all the while the chanting never ceased, with the crowd shouting to the streets: “Whose life matters? Yvonne’s life!”
Once the crowd settled outside of City Hall, people shared their thoughts and songs through a loudspeaker. Flashing police cars blocked traffic from being able to reach the area directly surrounding the event. Speakers said this was a tactic to keep attention away from the protest.
Inquests can not be authorized at City Hall, as one protest sign among the crowd pointed out. Another event to demand an inquest will be held directly at the Coroner’s Office on Sep. 18. As things wrapped up, the group headed back to Percival Landing Park, this time using the sidewalk as a pathway, still chanting and waving signs.
