“Jussie Smollett put people’s lives at risk and could have created a situation that was much more damaging for those who are African American and for those who do identify with the LGBTQ community. We have many members of the black community and the LGBT community who have been the victims of racism and hate crimes, so for Smollett to say that he was a victim of racism and hate crime — and we believe that is a lie — certainly is an injustice to those true victims of racism and hate crimes.”

– Los Angeles-based black Muslim activist Najee Ali