The protesters chanted “16 shots, 14 months” – referring to the number of bullets that struck Laquan McDonald and the delay in both the release of the video and the pursuit of charges against Chicago officer Jason Van Dyke.
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Prosecutors and city officials have come under fire for waiting until a judge ordered the release of the video to charge Van Dyke with murder.
Not all of the groups taking part in the Black Friday protest in Chicago’s ritziest shopping district are taking the same approach. But we call the police, and they engage in another level of behavior.
Chicago police say they have made an arrest in the shooting death of a nine-year-old boy, whose alleged gang-related slaying has sparked outrage in that city. His attorney said Van Dyke feared for his life when he fired at McDonald and that the case should be tried in the courtroom, not in social media or on the streets. This may be one of the very rare cases where it is appropriate to prosecute a police officer.
“The path forward is to keep people united, to keep people watching out for each other, to try to teach people to treat each other with respect and kindness”.
“We want to show them how it’s done in Chicago”, one speaker shouted into a megaphone in front of Water Tower Place.
Meanwhile, protesters again took to the streets Friday in Chicago, following the release this week of the shooting death of a black teenager by a white police officer. He said he feels that the color of his skin means he can not trust the police. The newspaper accused the mayor’s office of “a pattern of noncompliance, partial compliance, delay and obfuscation” in handling the public’s requests to see records.
However, McCarthy said he has no plans to resign, and the mayor has given him has full support.
Black Lives Matter protesters also disrupted the nation’s busiest shopping day at stores in Seattle and New York City.
A group of African American aldermen last week called for the ouster of McCarthy, a key member of Emanuel’s administration. The police union objects to its release.
“Our caucus has vowed to work with other caucuses and other of our colleagues to review the FOP contract to make sure there are tougher policies and sanctions against police officers who do egregious or illegal acts”, said Alderman Pat Dowell.
Among the marchers was 73-year-old Frank Chapman, of Chicago, who said the disturbing video confirms what activists have said for years about Chicago police brutality.
“The whole city should really be in an uproar”, said Levon Barnes, a teacher, youth leader and protester from North Carolina.
Dean Angelo, president of the local lodge of the FOP, dismissed criticism from lawmakers who he noted had unanimously approved the FOP contract. Recalling the look on the officers’ faces when the judgment was read, Ed Nance told the newspaper, “They looked like, OK, so what, go (back) to work…”
“Violence in Chicago needs to change”. The loss of Black Friday sales along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile can hurt the city somewhere down the line.
“The people who are going to participate in the tradition of the Magnificent Mile, the retail that goes on in that area, had nothing to do with the Chicago police shooting”.
“That’s why we’re not having problems that other cities are having, or have had in the past”, McCarthy said before Friday’s march.
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“The city, from what we can tell, covered up basically a murder…”
