Jussie Smollett Invokes Protests in His Legal Battle with Chicago Jussie Smollett Using Protests to Call Out Cops In Legal Battle with Chicago. Embattled actor Jussie Smollett cited ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd while demanding more transparency from cops in his own criminal case, according to new court documents. Jussie Smollett breaks his silence amid new charges in alleged hate crime hoax: 'The truth is the best defense' The former "Empire" actor has broken his silence to maintain his innocence. Smollett was allegedly beaten while leaving a Subway restaurant in Chicago at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 29. Nearly three weeks after he became the victim of an alleged racist and homophobic attack, actor Jussie Smollett says that he’s pissed off — not just about the assault itself, but the personal attacks he’s received in the weeks since he came forward with his story. Black student at Texas A&M who claimed he found racist notes on his car saying the n-word, 'all lives matter,' and 'you don't belong here' put them there himself, campus cops say

CHICAGO (AP) — Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Monday to restored charges that accuse him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year in Chicago and then falsely reporting to that the phony attack was real. Smollett, 36, gave police the wrong name — Jake, the name of his brother — after being stopped in 2007, according to a complaint filed by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. 7.5K; 382 6/8/2020 8:39 AM PT