Jasmine Richards, Black Lives Matter Activist, Released From Custody

Jasmine Richards. – Courtesy photo

Jasmine “Abdullah” Richards, founder of Black Lives Matter Pasadena, who was convicted on one count of attempting to free a prisoner in police custody during a 2015 incident in Northwest Pasadena and sentenced on June 7 to 90 days in jail, was released from custody on Saturday, June 18.

When Richards’ arrest was originally announced, authorities said she had been charged with attempting to break a California state law known as “felony lynching.”

Richards’ arrest, trial, conviction, and sentencing became a cause “célèbre” for civil rights activists, who claimed that Richards was targeted by Pasadena police and over-charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney in retaliation for her political activities.

Her sentencing at the Pasadena Courthouse less than two weeks ago attracted hundreds of protestors demanding her release.

A juror in Richards’ case also submitted a letter to Judge Elaine Lu requesting minimum sentencing for Richards, who faced potentially up to four years in prison.

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