Jussie Smollett was convicted Thursday for orchestrating and reporting a false hate crime to police. Although the jury and his detractors did not buy his story, Black Lives Matter released a statement supporting the actor.
Dr. Melina Abdullah, Director of BLM Grassroots and Co-Founder of BLM Los Angeles, issued a statement supporting Jussie Smollett while criticizing the Chicago Police Department (CPD). Abdullah highlighted the CPD's "deep history of corruption, racism, and brutality," while pointing out notable individuals who have been victimized by the police force.
"In our commitment to abolition, we can never believe police, especially the Chicago Police Department (CPD) over Jussie Smollett, a Black man who has been courageously present, visible, and vocal in the struggle for Black freedom," the statement read. "While policing at-large is an irredeemable institution, CPD is notorious for its long and deep history of corruption, racism, and brutality. From the murders of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, to the Burge tortures, to the murder of Laquan McDonald and subsequent cover-up, to the hundreds of others killed by Chicago police over the years and the thousands who survived abuse, Chicago police consistently demonstrate that they are among the worst of the worst. Police lie and Chicago police lie especially."
Jussie Smollett was convicted on five of six counts of felony disorderly conduct. According to the actor's lawyer, he maintains his innocence and plans on appealing the conviction. The City of Chicago has also sued Smollett in connection to the cost of the investigation into his attack.
Source: TMZ
