Release of video sends protesters into Chicago streets

As Chicago officials released the video of the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old teen by a Chicago police officer, community activists expressed frustration with the recording’s delayed release, some marching in the streets, others asking for calm.

Other city leaders expressed concern for how the video, which shows Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times by a police officer in October 2014, may be perceived by the city’s youth.

On Tuesday evening, dozens of black activists gathered inside an art gallery to talk about the video’s release. Fresco Steez of the Black Youth Project 100 later asked reporters to be cognizant of protesters’ “raw” feelings.

“Tonight, what we’re having is another instance of a killing, a public lynching of another young black man so we’re asking you to give us some space to process our feeling around that. … Their feelings might be raw,” Steez said.

Minutes later, the group emerged from the building, chanting. Activists later spilled into the streets, yelling in unison, “16 times!” in reference to the number of bullets fired by police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Others shouted, “Don’t ask me about a riot when people are dying.”

The demonstrators were accompanied into the South Loop by a police escort on bicycles and in squad cars. At Roosevelt and State Street, protesters locked hands, enveloping several police cars.

A small crowd of protesters was still snaking through streets near Chicago’s downtown early Wednesday.

The protesters had tried to block traffic on an expressway before walking toward a lakefront park. A few yelled at police officers, others chanted as they blocked a street.

There was little traffic during the overnight hours.

Another smaller group spent the late evening hours outside a police station.

Earlier Tuesday, parents and guardians of students in Chicago Public Schools received an email from Janice Jackson, the district’s chief education officer, alerting them of the video’s release.

“This footage is sure to raise many emotions among our children, and we want you to know that CPS will do everything possible to meet their needs,” Jackson wrote.

The video will not be shown in schools but may be discussed in class, Jackson told parents. Teachers have received “a special toolkit” to help them talk to students about the incident. Counselors also will be available, the district said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois released a statement regarding the video release, urging calm and asking for “productive discussion” about Chicago police interactions with the public.

“The anger and frustration expressed by many African-American residents of Chicago in viewing the video is understandable. Members of the African-American community have seen mistreatment and, sadly, violence at the hands of the police for too long in the city,” the organization said in a release. “We hope that we can seize this moment to improve all aspects of policing, with a commitment toward creating better relations between the public and police.

“It is time for real reforms in policing across the city, including better training that emphasizes de-escalation rather than force; increased transparency around police activities; and more public input and oversight of police activities in neighborhoods all across the city of Chicago,” the organization said.

Also Tuesday, outside a Burger King restaurant, speakers blasted police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and called for the city’s top cop to be fired or to resign in light of the video.

“Superintendent McCarthy knew about this tape a year ago, but he never said anything about it,” activist Tio Hardiman said, speaking of the dash-cam footage. “The only reason they’re speaking up now is because the judge ordered the tape to be released. This is hypocritical.”

Others questioned the political motives behind the timing of Van Dyke being charged with murder and McCarthy pushing for the firing of Detective Dante Servin, who was unsuccessfully prosecuted for fatally shooting Rekia Boyd in 2012, so close to the deadline to release the McDonald video. The court ordered that the city must make the video public no later than Wednesday.

“It’s a perfect time to release a video to make it seem like you’re doing your job,” organizer Arnold Julien said.

“If they felt (Van Dyke) should have been charged this morning, then they should have felt that way a year ago,” activist Quovadis Green said.

The group promised demonstrations at the release of the video but rebuffed any implication that such protests would turn violent.

“Chicago is not a Ferguson, it’s not a Baltimore,” Hardiman said. “We’re not promoting any violence, but we understand that people are going to be angry.”

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Release of video sends protesters into Chicago streets."