Cops Probe Swatting Incident At Home Of BLM Leader

August 13, 2020 Activism, Police

Courthouse News reports:

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a possible prank call Wednesday that triggered a heavily armed police response at the home of leading Black Lives Matter activist Melina Abdullah, who livestreamed the incident as her three children were inside the home.

Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter LA and a professor at California State University, Los Angeles, has been at the forefront of the movement for police accountability in LA County and a leading advocate for a robust ethnic studies program at her campus.

Shortly before she was scheduled to lead a press conference Wednesday regarding ethnic studies at Cal State LA, Abdullah started livestreaming on Instagram from inside her home, saying police had surrounded her home as a helicopter hovered above.

The LAist reports:



In the video, which lasts about 12 minutes, Abdullah points the camera through her window, revealing patrol cars outside and officers standing in tactical gear. She can be heard saying that they are pointing guns at her house.

Eventually, she makes her way outside, where she speaks with the assembled officers, at least one of whom is carrying what looks like a semi-automatic rifle. The police left after Abdullah explained that there was no hostage situation.

The video was no longer available to stream as of publication. Abdullah said she removed it because it revealed her home address.

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