PHILADELPHIA, PA – Dayjia Blackwell, a 21-year-old Philadelphia resident, was arrested last week for livestreaming and encouraging a mob of looters that broke into six businesses in North Philadelphia. Her lawyer, Jessica Mann, has labeled criticism of Blackwell as racist.
Blackwell, known by her online alias “Meatball,” filmed the group as they targeted stores including an Apple store and a Lululemon, broadcasting the incident to her 181,000 Instagram followers. According to FOX 29 Philadelphia, she faces six felony charges and was arraigned with bail set at $25,000.
Mann issued a statement on Friday accusing the media and Philadelphia Police Department of vilifying her client. She said the media overlooked the reason for the looting: the dismissal of charges against Police Officer Mark Dial, who had been accused of fatally shooting Eddie Irizarry.
In her livestream, Blackwell was heard cheering on the crowd as they looted. The stream ended with her apparent arrest in a Philadelphia police vehicle.
The North 22nd Street Business Corridor reported that six businesses were affected, including three pharmacies, a hair salon, a tax preparation company, and a cellphone store. Photos show extensive damage to storefronts, including shattered glass windows and toppled displays.
Blackwell’s case has ignited a debate about the role of livestreaming in criminal activities and raised questions about whether the media’s portrayal of such incidents is influenced by racial bias.