Dayjia Blackwell, a 21-year-old social media influencer who goes by the online alias ‘Meatball,’ found herself in a contentious situation when she livestreamed a looting episode in Philadelphia and invited her 181,000 Instagram followers to participate. Subsequently released on $25,000 bail, Blackwell openly appealed to her followers for financial support to cover her legal expenses and encouraged them to purchase items from her clothing brand.
Jessica Mann, who serves as Blackwell’s legal counsel, took a resolute stance in support of her client, arguing that the livestream served as a means to document the ‘unfiltered reality of public anger.’ Mann expressed her dismay through social media channels, chastising the media for what she viewed as a concerted attack on individuals from black and brown communities. She decried the media for their character and action vilification and also criticized the sharing of Blackwell’s emotionally charged mugshot.
In her public letter addressed to the media, Mann underscored the acquittal of a police officer involved in a shooting and criticized the Philadelphia District Attorney’s handling of the case. She portrayed the looters as ‘individuals driven by pain and anguish,’ emphasizing that their actions were not motivated by material gain but rather by a response to systemic oppression and unchecked police brutality. Mann called for a ‘constructive conversation’ on the fundamental issues contributing to the unrest and implored the city of Philadelphia to take responsibility for a system that perpetuates police brutality and community suffering.
Blackwell faces several charges, including burglary and disorderly conduct, and has openly expressed her trauma and fear following the incident, pledging to avoid further involvement in criminal activities. The looting, organized in a flash mob style and involving multiple participants, targeted various stores and led to numerous arrests and charges against dozens of individuals.