Black Lives Matter Can't Be Sued, Judge Rules; Baton Rouge Officer's Lawsuit Dismissed

Photo of Black Lives Matter courtesy of Twitter.

Black Lives Matter is a social movement and therefore cannot be sued, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

In a report from AP News, U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson dismissed a lawsuit by an anonymous cop against Black Lives Matter and DeRay Mckesson, after the cop was injured by a rock thrown during a protest for the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last year.

READ: DeRay Mckesson Released From Baton Rouge Police Department Custody

The lawsuit did not accuse Mckesson of throwing the rock that injured the officer's jaw and teeth, but it claimed he "incited the violence" and "was in charge of the protest," and that he was seen and heard giving orders.

"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 wrote in his 24-page ruling.

"It's clear that I did nothing wrong that day and that the police were the only violent people in the streets," Mckesson said after learning of the judge's ruling. "The movement began as a call to end violence and that call remains the same today."

Mckesson and Black Lives Matter still face another lawsuit from Donna Grodner, the attorney who represented the anonymous officer injured by a rock. Grodner also represents a sheriff's deputy who was wounded by a gunman who shot and killed three other police officers in Baton Rouge last summer. The suit accuses Black Lives Matters and five of its leaders (Mckesson being one of them) of inciting violence that led to the deadly attack.

Source: apnews.com