Reverend Al Sharpton has expressed frustration over the jury selection process in the ongoing trial of A$AP Rocky, citing a stark racial imbalance among potential jurors.
The prominent civil rights activist and Baptist minister took to X to raise concerns about the lack of Black representation.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that the jury will not be fair and representative, depriving A$AP Rocky of a fair trial,” Sharpton stated. “In a city like Los Angeles, where there are four (4) Black people out of every one hundred and six (106), it is unacceptable that zero (0) Black individuals appear among the first thirty (30) potential jurors. Something is clearly wrong with the system.”
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Sharpton further challenged the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office to address the issue. “I am monitoring this trial closely and urging the DA to ensure that fair and representative justice is afforded to A$AP Rocky,” he added.
Sharpton clarified that his concerns go beyond the specifics of Rocky’s case, pointing instead to the broader implications of racial inequity in jury selection. He emphasized that Rocky is entitled to a fair trial by a jury of his peers, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
It has been brought to my attention, by the National Action Network Los Angeles office, that out of one hundred and six (106) people called to potentially sit as jurors in A$AP Rocky’s trial in Los Angeles, there are only 4 black people.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) January 22, 2025
I have been closely in touch with A$AP…
The trial comes after A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, allegedly fired a semiautomatic firearm during an argument with Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli in 2021. Rocky has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. His attorney, Joe Tacopina, insists that the gun seen in surveillance footage was a “starter pistol” prop used for security purposes.
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According to police reports, the altercation escalated to gunfire, leaving Ephron with minor injuries. Tacopina stated that Rocky “is eager to tell his side of the story” in court.
Jury selection for the trial is expected to take 15 days. Earlier this week, A$AP Rocky rejected a final plea deal from prosecutors that would have resulted in 180 days in jail. Instead, he opted to proceed to trial, where he faces a potential maximum sentence of 24 years in prison if convicted.
The trial officially began Tuesday in a Los Angeles courtroom.
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