Accused hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett continues to profess his innocence – and he is now being backed by prominent figures in the Black Lives Matter movement.
The interview: The former “Empire” star appeared on activist Marc Lamont Hill’s Instagram Live on Wednesday to discuss the City of Chicago’s ongoing criminal case against him for allegedly lying to police about being the victim of a homophobic and racist attack by Trump supporters in January 2019.
Smollett — whose lawsuit accusing Chicago authorities of malicious prosecution was thrown out in April — said “there would be no reason for me to do something like this.”
- Victim?: “They won’t let this go,” Smollett said of the city’s prosecution of him. “You know what I’m saying? They won’t let this go. It doesn’t matter. … The sad part is that there is an example being made of someone who did not do what they’re being accused of.”
- Hero?: “Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I am so angry, but other times if I squint real hard I can see the silver lining,” he added.
Aislinn Pulley, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Chicago, and Angela Davis, a famous civil rights activist, earlier in the day appeared on Hill’s livestream to voice support for Smollett.
- Law and order?: “I don’t think that we have extricated ourselves from all of the influences of law and order rhetoric even though so many of us are involved in campaigns against the police,” Davis said. “The police still remains this major arbiter of what is right and wrong.”
- Freedom?: “How do we liberate ourselves from the ideological hold of the police?” she asked.
The letter: Davis was also among the celebrities and activists who signed an open letter published on Wednesday that claims Smollett has been the victim a smear campaign” by the allegedly corrupt and racist Chicago Police Department.
- According to the letter, police covered up evidence that would exonerate Smollett as part of a political conspiracy that involves President Donald Trump and Dan Webb, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate the actor’s case.
- “We believe this case is being used to distract us from the countless acts of racial injustice perpetrated by police against Black people and LBGTQ people and particularly in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and many others,” the letter reads, referencing icons of nationwide protests against racism and policing.
- “We’ve seen this before. We stand with Jussie and all persons targeted by hate crimes, police misconduct, and the Trump administration. Please join us. Let us vindicate Jussie Smollett and all those subjected to state-sanctioned violence and repression.”
Other signatories include actor Danny Glover, Black Lives Matter, Los Angeles co-founder Melinah Abdullah and 2017 Women’s March co-chair Linda Sarsour.
Justice for Juicy?: In July, Smollett appeared at a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York, raising a fist in solidarity with demonstrators.
