Teens Targeted Black Lives Matter LA Activist in Racist ‘Swatting’ Attack

Social Justice

By ShaCamree Gowdy Published: November 16, 2021

Teens Targeted Black Lives Matter LA Activist in Racist ‘Swatting’ Attack

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2020 file photo, Melina Abdullah speaks during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. Authorities say three teenagers driven by racial hatred were behind hoax calls that brought major police responses to the home of Abdullah, a leading Black Lives Matter activist in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

In Summary

In a move fueled by hatred, Los Angeles police have accused a group of teenagers of making phony calls in order to draw police to various homes, including one owned by the BLM LA co-founder.

A group of teenagers have found themselves in some serious trouble after police say racial hatred led them to place multiple hoax calls to individuals across the country, including Black Lives Matter Los Angeles co-founder and Cal State professor Melina Abdullah, per The Associated Press.

The teenagers allegedly used the chat platform Discord to plan the attacks, in which they ultimately made over 30 bomb threats and “swatting” reports, forcing police to show up at homes without cause.

“Some of the language used in the swatting incidents and a review of the subjects’ online activities reflect a racial motivation theme to a number of these swatting attacks,” LAPD said in a news release, per AP.

Two of the calls were to Abdullah’s house, which resulted in armed SWAT officers surrounding her home and ordering her to come outside over the loudspeaker—one of many LAPD actions she has criticized.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Abdullah doubted police claims toward the teenagers and made clear that even if what they were saying is true, it doesn’t excuse the “heavy-handed and harassing tactics” they used in the September 2020 and August 2021 incidents. She has since filed a lawsuit against the department of their mishandling.

“Even if what they’re saying is true, the police—LAPD—used this opening as an opportunity to attempt to terrorize me and my family,” said.

In connection with the incidents at Abdullah’s home, police will file a case to prosecutors in Los Angeles County for criminal conspiracy, fabricating a false emergency, as well as request a charge for hate crime enhancement.