Chicago, IL – A delegation of activists demanding Justice for Laquan McDonald met with an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago’s Federal Building. They presented a letter signed by 38 organizations and unions, as well as five elected officials, demanding federal charges against killer cop Jason Van Dyke.

A statement released before the protest explained, “VanDyke was given a ‘slap on the wrist’ by the Cook County Criminal Court after being convicted of McDonald’s murder and 16 counts of aggravated assault and is being released from prison after less than 3 ½ years, when Black and brown and other working-class Chicagoans are given sentences up to life in prison without possibility of parole for crimes far less serious.”

The delegation included Frank Chapman of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression CAARPR), Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina’s Church.

The delegation also presented copies of 49 complaints filed with the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2016 from families that had their loved ones killed or brutalized and tortured by the Chicago Police Department. To date, no meaningful action from the DOJ have been taken to deliver justice for these families.

The demand for charges has the support from the national president of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson, as well as the two U.S. senators from Illinois, Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. In the recent past, federal charges were brought against the three accomplice cops involved with the murder of George Floyd, and the three white vigilantes who killed Ahmaud Arbery.

Nine protesters were arrested inside the federal building and charged with misdemeanor civil contempt, including William Calloway, a community activist who was involved in winning the release of the video of the murder of Laquan McDonald in 2015; the uncle of Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times in the back by a cop in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2020; and Ja’Mal Green, community activist. Also arrested was Kina Collins, community activist and candidate for Congress. Laquan’s grandmother, Tracie Hunter, was with the group that was arrested; however, she was not charged.

A crowd of about 100 protested outside the building . Chicago police officers displayed their typical vicious treatment of the Black Lives Matter movement. Shasta Jones of CAARPR was at the protest and said, “A cop threatened to sic a huge German shepherd dog on me and an older Black woman.” According to Jones, the cop said, “I’ll let this fucking dog go if you don’t move!” The dog growled, and Shasta and others around her had to run into traffic to get away.

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #LaquanMcDonald

Chicago, IL – A crowd of 250 people marched in the bitter cold through Washington Park on Chicago’s South Side today, January 21, to continue the fight for Justice for Laquan McDonald. The march was held in protest of the lenient sentence of only 81 months handed down by Judge Vincent Gaughan on Friday. In October 2014, the racist police officer, Jason Van Dyke, shot Laquan 16 times.

The main demand of the march was the immediate implementation of an all-elected Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC). The march went past the place where Ronald “Ronnieman” Johnson was shot in the back by a cop only days before Laquan was killed. His mother, Dorothy Holmes, spoke and demanded State’s Attorney Kim Foxx reopen the case of the killer cop, George Hernandez.

Frank Chapman of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, spoke before the march. “It’s time to organize an uprising, y’all. How many more of us do they have to kill? Now is the time!” Chapman called for the movement to “protest at the polls.”

Tanya Watkins of Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation closed the march by explaining that the CPAC legislation would establish community control of the police. CPAC has the support of 75 candidates for city council and two candidates for mayor. She condemned the corrupt members of the city council who voted in 2015 for the hush money to cover up the murder of Laquan, at the direction of Mayor Emanuel to secure his reelection.

There were several people running for alderman who joined the march, as well as mayoral candidate Amara Enyia.

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #PoliceCrimes #LaquanMcDonald

At the center of this trial are discrepancies between the reports submitted by officers tied to the murder and the dash camera footage. According to Gaffney, the officers on the scene met as a group to discuss the shooting, and later met with detectives separately. Prosecutors claim that Gaffney, Walsh, March, Van Dyke, and a few other officers met in a police station on the south side to discuss the shooting and watch the dash camera footage.

After meeting for hours, Officers Gaffney, Walsh and Van Dyke all submitted suspiciously similar statements about Laquan McDonald’s actions that night. All three officers used the exact phrase – “swinging knife”- to describe what McDonald was doing moments before Van Dyke fired his weapon. Additionally, the three officers claimed McDonald committed battery against Van Dyke, despite having no evidence to support their claim.

Gaffney, who encountered McDonald before his death, submitted his comments along with the officers who were on the scene with Van Dyke. Officer March first claimed McDonald lunged at Van Dyke and falsely attributed statements supporting the claim to another officer at the scene, Officer Dora Fontaine.

The defense attorneys have denied a coverup and have attempted to blame Laquan Mcdonald for his death. James McKay, representing Officer Walsh, claims the case is about “law and order.” He said, “It’s about Laquan McDonald not following any laws that night.” McKay later referred to McDonald as a “crazed individual” who was under the influence of the drug PCP.

The defense has asked Judge Domenica Stephenson for a directed finding, claiming the evidence is so weak that the officers must be acquitted immediately. Judge Stephenson has denied their motion.

Special Prosecutor Patricia Brown Holmes claimed the officers acted to protect Van dyke to create “false justifications” for the murder. The prosecution’s case has focused on the inflated threat of McDonald to protect Van Dyke from the full consequences of using deadly force without justification. They have argued that Gaffney should have reported the events separately, and he didn’t because he lacked the evidence. They’ve also focused on March’s claim that the shooting was justified.

This trial comes just two months after the conviction of killer cop Jason Van Dyke of second-degree murder and aggravated battery. This historic trial is exposing the blue code of silence that exists within the Chicago Police Department.

Judge Stephenson is expected to give her verdict on December 19.

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #LaquanMcDonald

Minneapolis, MN – More than 20 people gathered in a light rain at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis to celebrate the verdict in the Laquan McDonald case, October 5. The action was organized by members of Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar (TCC4J).

Participants in the action also called for justice for those in the Twin Cities who were murdered by the police, including William “Billy” Hughes, a Native American man. Saint Paul police murdered Hughes on August 5, and on October 5 – the same day as the Van Dyke verdict in Chicago – the county attorney said he would not file charges in the Hughes case. Rally emcee Angel Buechner of TCC4J said, “This may be a victory, but we need to continue the fight for other families.”

#MinneapolisMN #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke #TwinCitiesCoalitionForJustice4Jamar

Chicago, IL – About 1000 people are marching in downtown Chicago, late this afternoon, Oct. 5, in the wake of the Van Dyke verdict. Jason Van Dyke, a white cop who shot Laquan McDonald, an African American youth, 16 times, was found guilty of second-degree murder. Protesters are demanding a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC), to establish community control over the police department.

#ChicagoIL #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #CPAC #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke

Chicago, IL – Erica Nanton calls for a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC), to establish community control over the police, as hundreds of people gather at City Hall here, Oct. 5 in the wake of the Van Dyke verdict. Jason Van Dyke, a white cop who shot Laquan McDonald, an African American youth, 16 times in October 2014, was found guilty of second-degree murder.

#ChicagoIL #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke

Here, Chapman assesses the strategy of Van Dyke’s attorney, Daniel Herbert, the house lawyer for the Fraternal Order of the Police. The trial is in its second week. On Tuesday, Sept. 25, the defense presented an animated video that claimed to present the perspective of Van Dyke when he exited his vehicle and began firing at Laquan within six seconds.

On the defense in the Van Dyke trial

“The defense's strategy has been to put Laquan McDonald (the victim) here on trial. And the judge has allowed it to happen. The video created by the defense was just that – a ‘creation’ ignoring the controls of reality. Compared to the actual dash cam video taken from a police car, the video created by the defense was a complete distortion of what really happened, and the prosecution proved this by simply replaying the dash cam video of Laquan McDonald's murder.

Let's just walk through this for a minute.

First, the defense brings in a forensic pathologist to argue that Laquan was shot 15 times before he hit the ground and therefore was shot only once while on the ground. Whereas the dash cam video shows that after the first two shots Laquan was down on the ground and Jason Van Dyke continued to carefully aim and shoot Laquan 14 time while he lay on the ground helpless.

Second, the defense has been allowed by the judge and prosecution to call up as witnesses police officers who were at the scene of the crime, yet all of these officers originally wrote false reports as to what happened. None of them were impeached by the prosecution for having lied on their police reports.

Third, the defense has been allowed to use Laquan's juvenile record as evidence of Laquan being a violent criminal. Yet when Jason Van Dyke arrived on the scene and shot Laquan 16 time he had no knowledge of his juvenile record or anything except he was a Black suspect.

Our assessment is that there is nothing about this trial that is fair and impartial. From the time of the murder in 2014 there has been repeated efforts to not bring Jason Van Dyke to justice. For 400 days while Mayor Emanuel suppressed the dash cam video, Van Dyke continued to work as a CPD police officer and it’s taken nearly three years since he was indicted in 2015 to finally come to trial. The dilatory tactics of the defense and the judge to drag out this case has succeeded in delaying, and justice delayed is justice denied. Then the jury selection where there is only one Black person on the jury.

And now that this heinous crime has finally come before the bar to be tried it is with a presiding tyrannical judge who has held in contempt spectators – movement people, and held them incommunicado for days and set outrageous bails. A judge who restricts public participation by setting up a process that requires everyone to register to attend this trial.

Still and all, were it not for mass protests and public outrage over the murder of Laquan McDonald we would not have gotten this far, where, for the first time in the history of Chicago, a white, on-duty cop has been indicted and tried for first degree murder. If we stay focused and continue, no matter what, to protest, I believe we can make this the first time for a cop to be convicted of first degree murder of a Black person.

We are obligated to fight back and our conviction is we know that we will win. Keep coming to the trial, keep protesting – for Laquan McDonald gave us the cause that we need to sacrifice what we must to win.”

Justice for Laquan, CPAC Now, All Power to the People!

#ChicagoIL #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #FrankChapman #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke

Chicago, IL – More than 100 people rallied at South Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway, Sept. 15, to demand justice for Laquan McDonald.

According to a statement from protest organizers, “[in] this past week of jury selection in the case of Jason Van Dyke for the murder of a 17-year-old Black youth, Laquan McDonald, we have witnessed only one Black juror being selected, and this is happening in a large city where one third of its population is African American.”

The demonstration was backed by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Black Lives Matter-Chicago, Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CTU), Take On Hate, Arab American Action Network, and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network.

Frank Chapman, Field Organizer, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, stated, “The criminal justice system in this city and nation has taken a dive into a deep, dark racist pit where there is no shame. Selecting only one Black juror out of 12 is indicative of how low they can go. Our people don't have to send out distress signals to themselves, for we are living under the scourge of racism every day. But there comes a time when we must let the world know that we are tired, fired-up and can't take it no more. That time is now.”

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke

Salt Lake City, UT – Downtown Salt Lake City echoed with the chants of more than 50 demonstrators shouting, “Justice for Laquan,” “Community control now,” and “Jail killer cops,” on Sept. 5, the opening day of the trial for the Chicago cop who murdered young Laquan McDonald.

The protest was held in solidarity with the national day of action against police crimes called by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the National Committee Against Police Crimes.

Speakers from Utah Against Police Brutality, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Rose Park Brown Berets, Black Lives Matter-Utah, Salt Lake Democratic Socialists of America, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation addressed the crowd. They called for Jason Van Dyke to be convicted and jailed for his crimes.

They also called for community control of police, in the form of the Salt Lake Police Accountability Council, a body that could fire and discipline cops who murder people like McDonald or who engage in any form of misconduct, without relying on the corrupt police and city officials who refuse to hold police accountable.

#SaltLakeCityUT #AntiwarMovement #PoliceBrutality #Utah #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald

Chicago, IL – 300 people came out to rally for justice for Laquan McDonald, Sept. 5, at the courthouse at 26th and California to mark the opening of the first-degree murder trial of police officer Jason Van Dyke.

Speakers at the rally included Alderman Carlos Rosa; Rev. Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ; Esther Hernandez of Innocent Demand Justice and mother of Juan and Rosendo, wrongfully imprisoned by disgraced Detective Reynoldo Guevara; and Armanda Shackleford, mother of torture victim Gerald Reed.

The mother of Antonio Porter, another torture victim, held her cell phone to the microphone so Porter could address the crowd from inside Stateville prison. Maria Hernandez of Black Lives Matter; Muhammad Sankari of the Arab American Action Network; and Frank Chapman of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression spoke. Jazmine Salas of the Alliance emceed the opening rally. The uncle of Steven Rosenthal, killed two weeks ago in North Lawndale, also spoke.

Many speakers celebrated the Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s previous day’s announcement that he is not running for reelection. Everyone agreed that the movement against police crimes, and especially the protests after the release of the video of the murder of Laquan McDonald were the main reason for Rahm’s decision. Joe Iosbaker of Freedom Road Socialist Organization asked, “Who defeated Rahm?” Shouts of “The people!” and “We did!” came roaring back.

The celebratory mood resulted in a note of confidence for justice for Laquan, and for community control of the police. Alderman Rosa said, “We know we could get a new mayor, but still have a racist police system.” “So when we win that civilian police accountability council, we will have the mechanism to ensure that the community has control over the police,” he added, “We will have the power to hold killer cops accountable for their crimes!”

There were solidarity rallies in New York City, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and Jacksonville, Florida, as well as campuses in Arlington, Texas; Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida; a banner drop in San Francisco and a statement sent from the Dallas NAACP.

Trial judge breaks agreement, disrespects community and McDonald Family

Brian Ragsdale, a Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression leader, was one of the few community members who were allowed into the courtroom. When he emerged, he spoke to the rally. “Only about 13 of us found seats in the court room. And we had to give up some seats so the McDonald family could sit. They had to sit in the back of the courtroom, instead of in the front row as normally happens for a victim’s family.”

Several of the organizations will return to the court on Thursday morning, Sept. 6. Van Dyke has a hearing then where the judge is considering revoking his bail because he violated the court’s gag order not to speak about the case, giving interviews to two TV and media outlets.

Then the movement will come out again when the court reconvenes on Monday, Sept. 10 at 9 a.m.

#Chicago #AfricanAmerican #RahmEmanuel #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke

Minneapolis, MN – A rally coinciding with the opening day of the Chicago murder trial of Jason Van Dyke, the white cop who killed Laquan McDonald, took place in north Minneapolis, Sept 5. The protest was one of many taking place across the U.S. to demand justice for Laquan McDonald and community control of the police. The rally was organized by the Twin Cities Coalition 4 Justice 4 Jamar.

#MinneapolisMN #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke #TwinCitiesCoalitionForJustice4Jamar

Minneapolis, MN – A solidarity rally demanding justice for Laquan McDonald has been called for Sept. 5, at 6 p.m. on Broadway and Fremont Avenues in north Minneapolis.

According to the Twin Cities Coalition 4 Justice 4 Jamar, which is organizing the event, “The Chicago trial for killer-cop Jason Van Dyke starts Sept. 5. He shot young Laquan 16 times in 2014. Mayor Rahm Emanuel led the cover-up of this crime, but the protests and demands of the people exposed the murder. This trial is one of the few times that a white cop is facing first-degree murder charges for killing a Black child. While we can’t expect it from the racist U.S. and Chicago systems, we can keep demanding justice.”

#MinneapolisMN #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke #TwinCitiesCoalitionForJustice4Jamar

Chicago, IL – People power prevailed over the racist Cook County court system on March 15 as Tyrone Williams, a leader in the movement for community control of the police, was released from jail after being held incommunicado for seven days.

As previously reported in Fight Back!, Williams was arrested on March 8 after being held in contempt of court by Judge Vincent Gaughan. Judge Gaughan is currently presiding over the murder trial of Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer who committed the gruesome murder of Laquan McDonald. Tyrone Williams, an activist with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, was held in solitary and without bail for one week.

After his arrest, the Chicago Alliance took immediate action and mobilized for his release. Hundreds of supporters called Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans of the Cook County Circuit Court asking him to intervene on behalf of setting bail for Williams. The organization also created a Tyrone Williams legal defense fund that raised nearly $3000, more than half of which was collected within the first 24 hours.

Williams appeared before Judge Gaughan on the morning of March 15 with a room full of supporters behind him. The judge set his bail at $30,000 and, thanks to support from the community, he posted bond that afternoon. He was finally released that evening to a small group of comrades and supporters, including members of the Alliance, Arab American Action Network, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, and Take on Hate.

Williams is in high spirits and remains dedicated to the stop police crimes movement. When released, he said, “Now is the time to organize for community control of the police and justice for Laquan McDonald.”

Williams is still accepting donations for his legal defense fund in preparation for his April 4 hearing: https://www.youcaring.com/tyronewilliams-1124478

#ChicagoIL #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #LaquanMcDonald

Chicago, IL — Tyrone Williams, a leader in the fight for community control of the police in Chicago, was arrested yesterday by the judge in the murder trial of Jason Van Dyke. Van Dyke committed the heinous murder of Laquan McDonald in 2014. Judge Gaughan has repeatedly ordered arrests of community members in the court room for minor infractions, while allowing the defense attorney endless delays to the start of the trial. In this photo, Williams speaks at a Black History Month program about the campaign for an elected civilian police accountability council (CPAC). He is a member of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, as well as Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald

Call for Justice for Laquan McDonald

The Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression calls upon all its allies, friends and all the various strands of the peoples’ movements to stand up to demand justice for Laquan McDonald, who was brutally shot 16 times execution style by CPD officer Jason Van Dyke on the night of Oct. 20, 2014.

The eyes of people around the country are on Chicago. This is the first time in the city’s history that a white police officer has been indicted for first degree murder for killing an unarmed Black person. But from the beginning, starting with the cover-up of the video recording of the murder by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the entire system seems determined to not allow justice to prevail in this case. Without a movement, there is no guarantee of justice.

On the first day of the Van Dyke trial, the Chicago Alliance calls for a mass protest outside the courthouse at 26th Street and California Avenue to begin at 8:00 a.m. We urge all organizations that want Justice for Laquan to endorse the call, and to join the Alliance in planning the rally.

In addition to mobilizing locally for the first day of the trial, we ask people in other cities in the Midwest to travel here to join the protest and attend the first day of trial.

We ask our supporters nationally to hold solidarity rallies in their cities on the starting date as well.

After the mass mobilization on the starting day of the trial, we also ask for continued solidarity from our allies throughout the trial.

The Alliance will help to coordinate housing for those that travel here for the start of the trial and need to stay overnight.

It is up to the people to make this the first time a white police officer has been indicted, tried and convicted for murdering a Black person. We must do this to end the cowardly, racist past practices where the police murder and brutalize us with impunity and bring about a new day of justice where police are held accountable for the crimes they commit against the people.

JUSTICE FOR LAQUAN! ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

If your organization wishes to be listed as an endorser, if you will be traveling to Chicago from another city, or holding a solidarity rally in your city, contact Frank Chapman or Jazmine Salas, co-chairs of the Stop Police Crimes committee of the Alliance at 312-939-2750.

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #LaquanMcDonald #JasonVanDyke

Chicago, IL – Over 100 protesters marched on the Cook County Court building for a pretrial hearing in the murder proceedings against Chicago cop Jason Van Dyke. Dash cam video showed Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald, a Black teenager, 16 times.

The hearing resulted in a ruling by the judge that prosecutors can use statements by the Fraternal Order of the Police, the organization which represents the cops, which in turn came from Van Dyke. The protesters were demanding an end to the stalling tactics, and that the judge set a trial date. They called for Van Dyke to be convicted and imprisoned for the October 2014 brutal, racist murder of the 17-year-old teenager.

#ChicagoIL #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #LaquanMcDonald

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

Chicago, IL – 500 people marched on the Magnificent Mile the night of Oct. 22, to send a message to the 1% that backs Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Two years ago, racist cop Jason Van Dyke murdered 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. The protest was held to mark that anniversary. The marchers demanded “Justice for Laquan” and community control of the police through an elected, civilian police accountability council (CPAC).

According to Frank Chapman, Field Organizer for the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, “We call for a boycott of Black Friday this Nov. 25. In support of our demand that the city council enact CPAC we are calling upon all the freedom loving people of Chicago to join us in boycotting the Magnificent Mile on Black Friday.”

“This march is a sign of what’s to come,” said Mike Elliott, Chair of the Labor Committee of the Alliance. The Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue is one of the wealthiest shopping districts in the country. Last year, thousands of protesters flocked there the day after Thanksgiving to disrupt shopping after the release of the video of the cop murder of Laquan. This year again, the Alliance will lead a mass march there.

Many of the marchers were with the International League of People’s Struggle – U.S. Chapter (ILPS). ILPS held a national conference during the day, and initiated the march. Bernadette Ellorin, Chair of BAYAN – USA, an organization of patriotic Filipinos fighting for national democracy in their homeland, and a member group of ILPS, spoke at the rally in Millennium Park before marching. “We stand in firm solidarity with the struggle for community control of the police, and the Black Liberation struggle demanding genuine social, economic and political change in the U.S.. Tonight we are in the streets to demand Justice for Laquan McDonald on the second year anniversary of his murder. End state repression! Down with imperialism.” Then Joelle Lingat led the crowd chanting, “Long live international solidarity!”

Also at the protest was the hip-hop artist, Vic Mensa, who was releasing a video that same day called #16Shots. He had intended to show the video during the protest, using a van with a mounted screen. The Chicago Police were aggressive, refusing to allow Mensa’s van to stop or even drive along with the video playing during the march.

Mensa spoke twice during the protest, at the beginning and the end. At the beginning of the protest, he denounced Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s police accountability legislation, recently passed in city council. “This is phony, it won’t hold the police accountable. The people need civilian control of the police.” At the end of the night, he spoke again, first performing the song acapella. He was joined by about 100 young people who had come in response to his tweets to join the protest. They performed the song to the line of cops pressing against the crowd. At the end of the rap, Mensa said to the crowd, “These cops won’t stop shooting us and getting away with it until we have CPAC.”

#ChicagoIL #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #CPAC #LaquanMcDonald

Chicago, IL – On Friday, Dec. 18, people in Chicago will again walk out of school and off their jobs to call for Mayor Rahm Emanuel and State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to resign. The protesters will assemble outside Chicago City Hall, around Daley Plaza.

The protest was called in response to the cover-up of the murder of Laquan McDonald in October 2014. 13 months later, a judge ordered the city of Chicago to release the police dash cam video of police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times. It has caused the biggest wave of protests against police crimes in Chicago since the Black Lives Matter movement emerged. A walkout with over 1000 people marching was held Dec. 9.

The walk out will take place at 3:16 p.m. The time was chosen to represent the protesters’ goals of removing three people from office: Police Superintendent McCarthy (who was fired by Emanuel two weeks ago), Emanuel and Alvarez, and the 16 shots that killed Laquan McDonald.

Frank Chapman of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression said, “We're reaching out to all Chicago Alliance members and allies in the movement for community control of the police to join us at 3:00 p.m. on the northeast corner of State and Lake streets. Look for our banner.”

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #RahmEmanuel #FrankChapman #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #LaquanMcDonald

Chicago, IL – 1500 people marched on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile on Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving. “A Unity March and Rally in Memory of Laquan McDonald” was called as part of the Black Friday protests that originated last year as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times by a Chicago cop in October 2014, and only this week did a court compel Mayor Rahm Emanuel to release the dash cam video of his murder.

The Magnificent Mile is one of the ten richest shopping avenues in the world, and most protesters were there to call for a boycott of stores in order to press their demands for an end to police murders. They did so in a militant action that went on for many hours, shutting down Saks Fifth Avenue and dozens of other expensive stores.

Frank Chapman of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression was one of the leaders of the march. He said of the crowd’s sentiments, “The people indicted all those who participated in the cover-up.” The killer cop, Jason Van Dyke, was shielded by Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent of Police Garry McCarthy, for 13 months.

Chapman added, “In the name of unity, Reverend Jesse Jackson has endorsed the demand for an elected Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC).” The movement in Chicago has increasingly called for CPAC to establish community control of the police.

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #FrankChapman #LaquanMcDonald