A Philadelphia influencer who livestreamed a bout of looting in the city was prompted by her legal representation to call the “all-out attack” on her racist.
Dayjia Blackwell, a 21-year-old influencer known as “Meatball,” live-streamed the looters in the recent flash mob raid in Philadelphia and asked her 181,000 Instagram followers to join her as she ran through the street.
Jessica Mann, Blackwell’s attorney, wrote on social media Friday: “It sickens me to witness the media’s complicity in what can only be described as an all-out attack on black and brown people because of their character and actions be vilified mercilessly.”
Mann defended the decision to livestream the looting as “nothing more than capturing the raw reality of public outrage.”
After Blackwell was released on $25,000 bail on Thursday, she brazenly begged her fans to pay a lawyer and urged people to buy clothes and hats from her brand.
She hired Mann, who also criticized the media for publishing her mugshot “with tears streaming down her face and disheveled hair.”
Blackwell, meanwhile, uploaded her mugshot as her profile picture on social media and hinted that she may print merchandise with the mugshot.
Dayjia Blackwell, 21, who was livestreaming a gang-style looting spree in Philadelphia and urging others to join in, appeared distraught as police took her mugshot
Dayjia Blackwell, known as Meatball, posted on her Instagram story after being released from prison. She told viewers about her time in prison and asked them to buy her merchandise or donate to her
Jessica Mann, Blackwell’s attorney, defended her client, saying the decision to livestream was “nothing more than capturing the raw reality of public outrage.”
Mann, Blackwell’s attorney, wrote on social media Friday: “It sickens me to witness the media’s complicity in what can only be described as an all-out attack on black and brown people.”
In her open letter to the media, Mann also discussed the dismissal of charges against fired police officer Mark Dial, who shot Eddie Irizarry, and “the Philadelphia District Attorney’s gross dereliction of duty.”
The lawyer said Blackwell’s decision to livestream was to “boldly expose the deep-rooted issues plaguing society” but that police and local media failed to engage in a “meaningful dialogue” about the causes of the unrest .
Mann called the looters “individuals driven by pain and fear” and said the robbery “was not about sneakers or alcohol.”
“It’s about the systemic oppression that has plagued our communities for generations… and the corrosive effects of unchecked police brutality and a justice system that favors the powerful over the voiceless,” the lawyer added.
At the end of the letter, Mann called on the city of Philadelphia to “take responsibility for creating a system” that allows police brutality.
“When officers can murder with impunity when communities suffer without resources, it’s no wonder people feel compelled to take matters into their own hands,” she wrote.
While some supported this opinion, others pointed out that they were facing charges for their involvement in a crime spree in which dozens were arrested.
“If she had stayed home, minded her business and not incited people, she wouldn’t be in the situation she’s in and there wouldn’t be any charges pending against her,” one of Mann’s supporters said.
“No matter how hard you all try to defend her, she must face the consequences of her actions and how her actions impact communities and people trying to make ends meet.”
One person claimed that even Meatball’s grandma disapproved.
“Even her grandma said what she did was illegal.” “And you’re playing the ‘legal’ black card,” one user said.
“I’m also a lawyer and former public defender and I’m ashamed of you.”
“A lawyer must defend the RIGHT of the client, but must not under any circumstances commit an illegal act.”
Images shared on social media show a large group storming the Apple Store and stealing items
Blackwell is charged with burglary, conspiracy, trespassing, rioting, criminal mischief, criminal use of communications facilities, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct.
The “looter” posted bail on Thursday morning and told her 196,000 followers: “All I want to do is treat myself.” She plugged her Cash App account for her followers.
Another post on her Instagram also said, “If you don’t have $150 for the promotion, at the end of the day I need a lawyer.”
In a separate post she sadly said: “Thank you, I love everyone. “I will never be locked up again, what madness that was. That scared me.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life, I don’t even know what happened.” “I need some sleep, I’m scared, I’m traumatized, never again in my life, this seriously,” Blackwell said.
The social media personality urged her Instagram followers to join her as she ran through the street and drove to several locations plagued by thieves on Tuesday evening.
She filmed a mob looting Apple, Lululemon and Footlocker before moving on to a liquor store, where she herself bragged about snagging a bottle of Hennessy.
‘Tell the police if they lock me up tonight it will be set on fire, it will be a movie!’ Everyone has to eat!’ she said to the camera.
In this image, a large number of people can be seen running to the Lululemon store during the shooting
Fine wine and good spirits were torn apart by looting on the second night
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Blackwell when she was finally caught by police in her friend’s car shortly after midnight.
While still filming herself and the evening’s events on an Instagram live stream, she tried to talk her way out of it.
“We had nothing to do with it!” She protested, clearly forgetting the hours of footage she had so carefully compiled and brazenly shared.
Blackwell joined dozens who were prosecuted following the social media chaos. Groups appeared to work together, breaking into stores and filling bags with merchandise before fleeing, authorities said.
At least 52 people have been arrested so far, with burglary, theft and other charges filed against at least 30 people as of Saturday.
According to Jane Roh, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, all but three of those arrested were adults.
The flash mob-style raid targeted dozens of stores on Tuesday evening, including Foot Locker, Lululemon and Apple.
A day later, at least 18 state-owned liquor stores were broken into, leading the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to close all 48 retail locations in Philadelphia and one in suburban Cheltenham on Wednesday.
Latest figures from last Sunday show there have been 302 murders in the city so far this year.
In addition, 402 rapes, 58,759 cases of property crimes, 3,701 cases of aggravated assault and 1,314 shootings were reported.