All out for Jason Van Dyke court hearing!

Chicago, IL — At 8 a.m. on August 11, the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) will lead a rally outside the Cook County Courthouse before the court hearing for Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke.

Van Dyke has been charged with first degree murder, official misconduct and aggravated battery after fatally shooting 17-year-old African American Laquan McDonald 16 times in October 2014. This is the first time a Chicago police officer has ever been charged with first degree murder of a civilian. The conviction of Van Dyke could mark a watershed moment in the movement to stop police crimes against Black and Latino communities.

Police dashcam video of Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times, within seconds of exiting his squad car, was released in November 2015. Mayor Rahm Emanuel fought against releasing the video for over a year, as it exposed the lies written in official police reports attempting to cover up their crimes. This included falsely stating that the victim had assaulted the officers, when it is clear in the video that McDonald had his back turned when Van Dyke mercilessly emptied his entire clip into McDonald’s body.

The video release sparked massive protests to demand justice for Laquan, provoking the greatest crisis of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's tenure.

The Chicago Alliance is demanding that Judge Vincent Gaughan proceed with the trial, stop the delays that have been going on for months, and jail the racist killer cop Jason Van Dyke.

Frank Chapman, a leader of the Chicago Alliance, told Fight Back!, “We have been so battered by this corrupt to the core, racist criminal justice system until we really have no expectations of getting justice at all. We didn't get justice in the murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Rekia Boyd, Philando Castile, Bettie Jones, Flint Farmer, Ronnieman Johnson, Tamir Rice and the list goes on and on until the days turn into decades. So why would it be different with the murder of Laquan? Well it won’t be if we don't make the difference.

“We must be more than outraged. We must show up for justice on August 11. Every victim of a police crime, everyone who lost a loved one or neighbor, everyone who is sick and tired of cops getting away with murder – must show up August 11, 8 a.m. at 2650 S. California. All power to the people!”

The Chicago Alliance will bus people to the courthouse from their office on 1325 S. Wabash, Room 105 at 7 a.m. Anyone wanting to reserve a seat on the bus can call 312-939-2750.

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke