Ben Carson Claims Laquan McDonald Video Hidden From Public for ‘Political Reasons’

Despite Emanuel issuing an apology, several prominent Chicago pastors have rejected Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s gesture of forgiveness and are demanding that his administration release yet another dash cam recording in which a white police officer fatally shot seventeen-year-old Cedrick Chatman. Yet, while protestors are demanding the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, one black youth leader wants the Chicago Police Department to be defunded.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces increased pressure to resign, as local black religious leaders called early Friday for a “vote of no confidence” against him for the 2014 cops shooting of a 17-year old black teenager.

Michael D. Robbins, center, attorney for the family Laquan McDonald, speaks at a news conference Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, in Chicago. Family members are also expected to demand more change from inside the Chicago Police Department and call for city, state and federal resources to be invested into the West Side community of Lawndale to benefit struggling residents.

“We have more of a problem in the office of the state’s attorney as it pertains to Laquan McDonald… and the people that suffered this injustice than we do in the mayor’s office”, he said. Acting on a judge’s order, the city released it, with the county’s top public prosecutor announcing charges against the officer hours before.

“We’re here today because there’s a problem in the city of Chicago when an officer who has sworn to serve and protect can gun down a citizen for no other reason than he was black”, added Hunter, who said McDonald was a “big boy, but he was a teddy bear”. A week later, the city took the unusual step of approving a $5 million payment to McDonald’s family even though his survivors had not then filed a lawsuit.

Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times in October 2014 by police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is charged with first-degree murder.

Emanuel has set up a task force to review accountability and is conducting a nationwide search for a new police superintendent.

Chicago officials fought the release of the video, arguing that it could interfere with any resulting court case.

For days, hundreds of protesters have shut down the streets of Chicago to rally for the resignations of Emanuel and Alvarez in response to the shooting video. But protests have included calls for his resignation.

The day before, student protesters staged a “die-in” at Daley Plaza.