A Federal Judge Just Ruled That Black Lives Matter Can't Be Sued

A federal judge has ruled that the Black Lives Matter movement is not an entity that can be sued.

A Federal Judge Just Ruled That Black Lives Matter Can't Be Sued

On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that the Black Lives Matter movement is a social cause that cannot be taken legal action against.

The decision came after an anonymous Louisiana police officer attempted to sue Black Lives Matter and one of its most prominent figures, DeRay Mckesson, after he was injured by a rock that was thrown during a protest in Baton Rouge following the police killing of Alton Sterling.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson dismissed the suit, in a 24-page ruling, which likened the Black Lives Matter movement to other social movements like the Tea Party and the Civil Rights Movement, stating that, "Although many entities have utilized the phrase 'black lives matter' in their titles or business designations, 'Black Lives Matter' itself is not an entity of any sort."

Jackson also dismissed the officer's attempts to add the hashtag, #BlackLivesMatter as another defendant in the case. “For reasons that should be obvious, a hashtag—which is an expression that categorizes or classifies a person’s thought—is not a ‘juridical person’ and therefore lacks the capacity to be sued,” Jackson wrote.

Mckesson, who was arrested along with 200 other demonstrators during the Baton Rouge protests, responded to the ruling on Thursday. “It’s clear that I did nothing wrong that day and that the police were the only violent people in the streets. The movement began as a call to end violence and that call remains the same today.”

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla at Durban Magistrate's Court on January 30, 2025 in Durban, South Africa.
News

Jacob Zuma's Daughter Faces Terrorism Charges. What Does This Mean for South African Politics?

The case could set a legal precedent for social media incitement and reshape South Africa’s political landscape ahead of future elections.

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, looks over during a plenary session in the Congress Hall, during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on January 21, 2025.
News

MK Party Accuses AfriForum of Treason Over Land Bill Propaganda

The United States has cut off financial aid to South Africa after right-wing organizations spread misinformation about race-based land seizures. Experts explain why the Expropriation Act isn't the threat Donald Trump and Elon Musk claim it to be.