Black Lives Matter Pasadena Organizer Faces Multiple Charges, Court Date This Week

Black Lives Matter Pasadena organizer and founder Jasmine Richards will go back to court on May 18, as hearings on four cases filed against her in connection with a public meeting in November continue.

Richards was charged with criminal threat and disturbing the peace in one matter, and battery of an officer and resisting arrest in another, with Pasadena police officers saying they have video footages showing she allegedly attacked and verbally assaulted a random person crossing the street. She also allegedly tried to spit on the man and chased him into a nearby Cheesecake Factory restaurant.

Will Rivera, Chief Assistant City Prosecutor for Pasadena, said Richard’s felony case is now up for jury trial, taking precedence over all the other cases which are on pre-trial stage. Rivera said he himself is a witness to the battery of an officer and resisting arrest cases which are based on events during the November 16, 2015 Public Safety Committee meeting.

“The felony charge could very well go to trial on May 18 as well,” Rivera said. “I wouldn’t want to speak for the DA’s office, I would say however that we contacted them and got the sense that it’s a likely trial.”

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the felony lynching case which came out of Richards’ alleged participation, prosecutors say, in an attempt to take another person from the lawful custody of a peace officer.

Richards’ attorney Nana Gyamfi maintains that none of the cases against the Black Lives Matter organizer should have been filed.

“They’re all coming out because of her protest activity,” Gyamfi said.