What began with an independent journalist’s lawsuit for Chicago to release dash-cam video of a white police officer shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald has become another cause for street protests—peaceful, at least so far.
Chicago officials had until November 30 to release the video, which shows the black teen being shot 16 times by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who has been charged with murder.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Garry McCarthy knew the video would provoke protests, and called for restraint, while preparing for the same kind of violence that beset Ferguson and Baltimore.
Watch the dash-cam video below.
Up to 300 protesters gathered and marched through city streets Tuesday night, according to the Chicago Tribune. “People are mad as hell,” Page May, an organizer with We Charge Genocide, told the newspaper. Activist groups faced off with police and chanted “16 times!” but largely remained peaceful, with only a few arrests.
Independent journalist Brandon Smith, whose Twitter handle is @muckrakery, filed the suit for the city to release the dash cam footage after McDonald was shot in October 2014.
The release of the Chicago police shooting video, by tomorrow, all began with reporter @muckrakery suit this summer pic.twitter.com/CPpzoc7Cn0
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) November 24, 2015
Ironically, authorities decided not to let Smith in to the press conference where the video was released.
At the presser. Police tasked with guarding the door are “checking whether to let (my lawyers and I) in.” To see the video we pried loose. — Brandon Smith (@muckrakery) November 24, 2015
The worst part about being barred from the press conference that my lawsuit precipitated is that I can’t ask Rahm questions about it.
— Brandon Smith (@muckrakery) November 24, 2015
With the press out in force waiting for another Ferguson to develop, there was no shortage of live coverage, with both media and individuals live tweeting.
#LaquanMcDonald protests heading south on State Street https://t.co/fmkuN2NUUf pic.twitter.com/7pMf4Ys1s4 — DNAinfo.com Chicago (@DNAinfoCHI) November 25, 2015
WATCH: Demonstrators gather in Chicago to protest after #LaquanMcDonald video released https://t.co/6dY0ATN7Iw https://t.co/gcW8ShQg3E
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 25, 2015
After 7 hours of marching in the streets, a staring competition between a protester and police man. #LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/6nxCpzpY19 — Ahmed Shihab-Eldin (@ASE) November 25, 2015
Chicago protests underway over police releasing video of #LaquanMcDonald being shot 16 times https://t.co/8wYJshdPRE https://t.co/zxWoCU0HeZ — The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) November 25, 2015
Activists took to the streets in reaction to the release of a police dash-cam video #Chicago #LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/uVivz6Y9EF — Chicago Trib Photo (@ChiTribPhoto) November 25, 2015
@ChiTribPhoto @ChicagoBreaking wow nice job picking the most inflammatory picture to push your fear agenda, tonight was peaceful. — Mr. Mojo Rising (@Better_Red) November 25, 2015
Protesters marching through the streets of Chicago tonight #LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/AUDtP75k0k — Ashlee Rezin (@Ashlee_Rezin) November 25, 2015
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
