Outside Chicago Police headquarters, standing above a body chalk outline and 16 yellow evidence markers Thursday, activists marked the second anniversary of the shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder in November 2015, just hours before a judge ordered the release of a dashcam video that shows Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times on Oct. 20, 2014. McDonald was holding a knife, but was walking away from police when Van Dyke opened fire.
The timing of the charges and the release of the video had activists and community leaders claiming Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez colluded to delay charges so Emanuel could get re-elected.
As protestors filled the streets in the days and weeks that followed, “16 shots and a cover up” became the popular refrain.
Source: http://www.guns.com/2016/10/21/two-years-after-fatal-police-shooting-chicago-activists-seek-recall-of-mayor/
[ssba]
