Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Sharing animagewith “#FreeJussie” written in white font on top of a black background, the actress pleaded for Jussie’s freedom, writing, “I am not here to debate you on his innocence but we can agree that the punishment does not fit the crime.”
Brad Barket/Getty Images
“He has already lost everything, EVERYTHING!” Henson continued. “To me as an artist not able to create that in itself is punishment enough. He can’t get a job. No one in Hollywood will hire him and again as an artist who loves to create, that is prison.”
Henson concluded her post, adding: “My prayer is that he is freed and put on house arrest and probation because in this case that would seem fair. Please #freejussie 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾..”
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At Cook County Judge James Linn’s discretion, Jussie received 30 months of felony probation, with the first 150 days to be spent in jail, PEOPLE previously confirmed. In addition to his sentence, Jussie will pay $120,106 in restitution and receive the maximum fine of $25,000, Linn ordered.
When the sentence was announced, Jussie stood, removed his mask, and angrily maintained his innocence before telling the court, “I am not suicidal, and if anything happens to me when I go [to jail], I didn’t do it to myself and you must all remember that.”
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Jussie Smollett.Rob Kim/Getty
Jussie, an openly gay Black actor, was originallyindicted in March 2019 with 16 counts of disorderly conductforallegedly filing a false report, claiming that, while on his way home from a Subway sandwich shop in Chicago,two men attacked himlate at night.
Jussie initially claimed that black-clad, masked men spewed racist and homophobic slurs at him. He further claimed the men had puta rope around hisneck during the attack.
Henson’s statement came one day after Jussie’s brother, Jocqui Smollett, alleged that Jussie is being held in a psych ward at the Cook County Jail in a post of his own on the social platform.
In avideo, which was shared through Jussie’s account, Jocqui spoke directly to the camera, saying, “Jussie is currently in a psych ward at the Cook County Jail. What’s very concerning is that there was a note attached to his paperwork today and put in front of his jail cell saying that he’s at risk of self-harm.”
Jocqui claimed that his brother “is in no way, shape or form at risk of self-harm. He wants to let folks know that he is very stable, he is very strong, he is very healthy and ready to take on the challenge that ultimately has been put up against him.”
He also added that it was a “complete lack of justice — it’s angering, it’s an outrage,” before asking supporters to utilize posts accompanying the “#FreeJussie” hashtag on social media.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office explained that Jussie is being held in protective custody, not solitary confinement. The sheriff’s office noted that the area is for inmates “who may potentially be at risk of harm due to the nature of their charges, their professions, or their noteworthy status.”
“As with all detained persons, Mr. Smollett is entitled to have substantial time out of his cell in the common areas on the tier where he is housed, where he is able to use the telephone, watch television, and interact with staff,” said the statement. “During such times out of cell, other detainees will not be present in the common areas. These protocols are routinely used for individuals ordered into protective custody.”
A lawyer for Jussie did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
