Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carol Boas Goodson issued a restraining order on Wednesday against a Black Lives Matter activist accused of stalking LAPD commission president Matt Johnson at his home and place of business. According to court testimony, Trevor Ferguson and approximately twenty BLM activists "barged into" Johnson's law office last year and confronted Johnson and his law partner. Two days after the incident, Ferguson went to Johnson's home with a group of activists.
Activists chant 'houseboy' during commission meetings
Matt Johnson, who is one of two black commissioners, has been targeted by Ferguson and his protesters, who routinely disrupt the commission's weekly meetings by chanting racial slurs at the black LAPD commission president.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the commissioner is frequently taunted by the BLM activists at these public meetings, who refer to him as "houseboy"-- an offensive term for a black person who is believed to be subservient to whites. Johnson also claimed that Ferguson threatened him with bodily harm at these meetings, and once threatened to kill him.
Judge Goodson ruled that Ferguson's actions were intended to "incite fear." While the judge ruled that the BLM activist can continue to attend the public Police Commission meetings, he must maintain a five-yard distance from Johnson at all times.
Johnson still supports the right to protest peacefully
In his statement to the Los Angeles Times, Matt Johnson said that while he "deeply respects" the right to protest, he draws the line when the safety of his family is in jeopardy.
Trevor Ferguson declined to answer questions following Judge Goodson's ruling. The Los Angeles Times reports that Ferguson responded with, "Great is Allah," when questioned by reporters.
Ferguson's lawyer, however, told reporters that she plans to appeal the judge's decision. The NY Daily News reported on Wednesday that the activist's attorney, Nana Gyamfi, referred to the restraining order as a "precedent-setting" blow to free speech.
