A California jury has awarded former Black Panther Elaine Brown over $3 million in connection with an assault case against Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks.
Brown alleges that a heated encounter with Brooks in 2015 turned physical when Brooks shoved her as they were arguing, causing her to stumble backward into several chairs. According to Fox News, the pair was at odds over an affordable housing project application. Brown was 72 years old at the time of the incident, which led the jury to also deem Brooks’ actions “elder abuse” in addition to assault.
She maintains that she did nothing to provoke Brooks and says she suffered multiple bruises and bumps as a result of the fall into the chairs.
Brown’s original request for $1 million in damages was rejected, however, the jury ultimately awarded her with $3.75 million after determining that Brooks was acting as a city employee at the time of the incident.
The Philly native reportedly became a part of the Black Panthers in 1968, before assuming a leadership role in 1974.