“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has routinely raised his clenched fist in the air while walking to and from court, where he’s being tried for allegedly fabricating an anti-gay, anti-black hate crime.
Smollett raised his fist into the air while leaving court Tuesday, Fox News reporter Matt Finn said on Twitter.
“I asked Jussie Smollett what he was thinking on the way out of court – he put his fist up in the air,” Finn posted to Twitter.
I asked Jussie Smollett what he was thinking on the way out of court – he put his fist up in the air.
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) December 7, 2021
Speaking on Fox News airwaves, Finn reiterated the same, noting that Smollett was leaving court during the interaction.
Jussie Smollett left the court today while putting his fist in the air. pic.twitter.com/5WYccTTrUa
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 7, 2021
According to National Geographic, the raised fist is “a global symbol of fighting oppression” and is often connected with the Black Lives Matter movement.
“The raised fist has been a staple of protests across the United States as the country continues to grapple with systemic racism,” the outlet said. “Demonstrators use it when confronting federal police in Portland, Oregon. People have spray painted it on sidewalks and the sides of buildings. There are even emojis.”
Notably, Smollett has personally raised his clenched fist while participating in a Black Lives Matter protest outside Trump Tower, in July 2020.
The 39-year-old has raised his fist on numerous other occasions during his trial.
For example, a photograph for AFP/Getty Images shows Smollett raising his fist in the air while walking into the courthouse Monday, too. “Jussie Smollett arrives with family members at the Leighton Criminal Court Building for his trial on disorderly conduct charges on December 6 2021 in Chicago, Illinois,” the photo description reads. The photographer is named as Kamil Krzaczynski.
KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images
“Jussie Smollett walks into Cook County Courthouse surrounded by family, friends and attorneys. Asked how he is doing ….. He raises his fist and bows his head down,” NBC reporter George Mycyk captured Monday. “Will we see #JussieSmollett on the stand today? #JussieSmolletttrial.”
Jussie Smollett walks into Cook County Courthouse surrounded by family, friends and attorneys. Asked how he is doing ….. He raises his fist and bows his head down. Will we see #JussieSmollett on the stand today? #JussieSmolletttrial pic.twitter.com/I7asOBSbKu
— GeorgeMycykNBC (@GeorgeMycykNBC) December 6, 2021
Smollett did the same on December 2, as well. “Actor Jussie Smollett raises his fist when asked how he was doing while walking through the Leighton Criminal Courthouse lobby on day four of his trial Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Chicago,” reads the description of an AP Photo. “Smollett is accused of lying to police when he reported he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago nearly three years ago.” The photographer is named as Charles Rex Arbogast.
NBC Chicago reporter Sandra Torres captured the moment from December 2 on video. “This morning, Jussie Smollett raised his fist as he walked into the Cook County Courthouse for Day 4 of his trial,” she captioned the post. “Defense attorneys are about to cross-examine Abimbola Osundairo, who testified Smollett recruited him & his brother to stage an attack on him in 2019.”
This morning, Jussie Smollett raised his fist as he walked into the Cook County Courthouse for Day 4 of his trial.
Defense attorneys are about to cross-examine Abimbola Osundairo, who testified Smollett recruited him & his brother to stage an attack on him in 2019.@nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/1HdKs8yJh5
— Sandra Torres (@SandraTorresNBC) December 2, 2021
In July 2020, Smollett raised his fist while participating in a Black Lives Matter protest outside Trump Tower.
“Jussie Smollett raised a fist in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at a protest outside of the Trump Tower in New York,” the Daily Mail reported at the time, posting a photo of the moment.