An estimated 2000 protesters marched in the streets of Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Van Dyke is facing first-degree murder charges because of the shooting.
“The protesters did take over the street for sometime today blocking stores but it seems to have been a safe experience thus far”, said John Curran, a vice-president of marketing for The Magnificent Mile Association. They blocked traffic and the entrances to many stores and prompted other businesses to lock their doors in the biggest public display since video of the shooting was released earlier this week. It was the police who allegedly destroyed evidence by deleting videotape recorded by a nearby Burger King security camera – video that may have contained relevant footage – shortly after the McDonald shooting. “People have a right to be angry, people have a right to protest”.
“Alvarez insists that her decision to charge Van Dyke was not “dictated” by the release of the video, but that it did “[move] up the timing”. For Black Friday in Chicago, the story became about a peaceful movement of people, including Jesse Jackson, former candidate for mayor Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, and local activist and priest Father Michael Pfleger.
Chicago’s NBC affiliate reported that one man confronted the protesters, demanding they let him pass and telling them they are wasting their efforts and unfairly inconveniencing normal people. Police kept their distance from the protesters and blocked traffic from entering Michigan Avenue.
McCarthy says: “we’re not going to stand by and watch something happen”. “After seeing the video, I’m not surprised they’re marching”, said Steve McCoy. But both the police chief and the Cook County state’s attorney deny the Burger King video was altered.
Dozens of Chicago police officers lined the marchers’ route in front of the high-end stores that North Michigan Avenue is known for.
Rev. Jesse Jackson on Saturday encouraged more demonstrations across the city until those demands have been met. Leaders at Rainbow PUSH indicated protesters are planning to shut down the State Street shopping district next.
In defense, Van Dyke explained that he shot McDonald because he feared for his life.
If Laquan McDonald is Chicago’s most famous murder victim-assuming his shooting was murder-Tyshawn Lee is the city’s second best-known victim.
In the six-minute video, McDonald is seen jogging down Pulaski Road when Van Dyke and another police officer step out from their vehicle carrying their guns. At that point, an unidentified officer, who prosecutor’s identified as Van Dyke’s partner, approaches McDonald and kicks a small knife the teen is holding in his hand.
Others screamed, “16 shots, 13 months”, pointing to how long it took authorities to charge Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in the African-American teenager’s death.
Jackson and Rush want a special prosecutor in the McDonald case, they said. It was also preceded by a press conference from Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, who urged people to remain calm in reaction to the video, which he subsequently claimed not to have seen yet.
