Jurnee Smollett Shares ‘Free Jussie’ Message After Brother’s Sentencing

variety.com:

J. Kim Murphy Actress Jurnee Smollett has voiced support for her brother, Jussie Smollett, after the former “Empire” actor was sentenced to five months in jail for orchestrating a false hate crime narrative, in which he told law enforcement he was attacked by two men who yelled racist and homophobic slurs.Jurnee Smollett, Jussie’s younger sister, asserted that she believes in her brother’s innocence in an Instagram post that shared on Saturday afternoon.

Her statement also argues that the matter of Jussie’s innocence has little to do with whether he should be incarcerated or not.“Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly five times the rate of White Americans.

Jussie is innocent,” Jurnee Smollett’s post reads. “And… you don’t have to believe in his innocence to believe he should be free.” Jurnee Smollet’s comments accompany a simple picture of white text on a black background reading “#FreeJussie.” Her caption concludes with the hashtag “#StopLockingUpOurPeople.”A post shared by Jurnee Smollett (@jurneesmollett)Jussie Smollett was sentenced to five months in jail on Thursday, along with being ordered to pay $120,000 restitution and a $25,000 fine to the city of Chicago and to serve 30 months of probation.Upon his sentencing, Smollett stood up and said, “I am innocent and I am not suicidal.” Several of Smollett’s supporters have expressed concern for the actor’s safety if he were sentenced to a jail term, given the notoriety of his case.

Smollett has emphatically suggested that if he were found dead in prison, it would not be by his own hand.Smollett told Chicago police on Jan.