With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Police Swarm Black Lives Matter-LA Co-Founder's Home After False Kidnapping Call
Black Lives Matter L.A. leader and Cal State LA educator Dr. Melina Abdullah speaks at a press conference demanding Abdullah become the dean of Ethnic Studies on the morning her home was swarmed by LAPD. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
()
Los Angeles police swarmed the home of Black Lives Matter L.A. co-founder Melina Abdullah this morning. She livestreamed the incident on Instagram in what appeared to be a false call meant to draw armed law enforcement to her home.
In the video, an officer on scene explains to Abdullah that the police had received a call saying someone was holding her and her family hostage, and that this man wanted a million dollars or he would kill them in an hour. It appeared to be a "swatting" incident — when someone places a false 911 call in an attempt to draw a large, armed law enforcement response, often by a S.W.A.T. team.
The incident came on the same morning Abdullah was scheduled to speak to the press about a campaign to appoint her as dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State L.A., where she teaches.
At that event, Abdullah talked about the swatting incident, saying: “We don’t even believe that [LAPD] got that call. We believe it’s yet another tactic that’s being used to block us from ushering in black freedom and, by extension, freedom for all people."
Support for LAist comes from
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.
“We looked out the front window, and two officers stood and put their assault rifles and pointed them directly at us," Abdullah said at Cal State L.A. "And I realized they came for me. And they called out my address, said everyone needed to come out with their hands up ... I was afraid -- and I don’t use that word often. I was concerned that if I didn’t come out that my children might be in danger.”
Abdullah has been at the forefront of recent protests against police violence in L.A. and has called for the defunding of law enforcement.
The video was no longer available to stream as of publication. Abdullah said she removed it because her revealed her home address.
Abdullah chairs the department of Pan-African Studies at Cal State L.A. She and her supporters have been sharply critical of the appointment of longtime Asian American legal advocate Stewart Kwoh as interim dean of the College of Ethnic Studies while a search is conducted for a permanent dean.
Kwoh is the founding president and past executive director of the legal and civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles. (Full disclosure: Kwoh is a life trustee of the board of Southern California Public Radio.)
MORE ON THE ETHNIC STUDIES CONTROVERSY:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist