Why Chicago pastors reject Mayor Emanuel’s ‘olive branch of peace’

Marvin Hunter, pastor of a west side Baptist church and Laquan McDonald’s great-uncle, did echo calls by protesters that Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez should step down.

Emanuel has acknowledged that it’s a long process to rebuild trust between the Chicago Police Department and Chicagoans and it will take a lot of work, according to Earnest.

Carson said Van Dyke’s history of complaints filed against him “indicate he might have been a bad apple”.

“Not only in Chicago, but across the nation there are bad apples in police departments”. During the performance he acknowledged Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who was charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of McDonald.

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.

The group is also demanding the release of all dash cam videos of police initiated shootings and the appointment of a new prosecutor to handle these cases now and in the future.

Zopp has said a special prosecutor would assure a fair proceeding and that she would ask Chief Circuit Court Judge Tim Evans and Chief Criminal Court Judge LeRoy Martin Jr.to appoint one. About 28 percent said they would have changed their vote for mayor if they had seen the video before Emanuel’s April re-election.

Seventeen-year-old Cedrick Chatman was killed in January 2013 by police during an investigation into his suspected involvement in a auto theft. Officers said they believed he was reaching for a gun.

The city is fighting the release of that video, arguing that it could prejudice would-be jurors if the case goes to trial.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner, Mr. Charles Ramsey, who is from Chicago, today said Mr. Emanuel shouldn’t resign because of one incident, citing the fact that voters just re-hired him and if they were truly unhappy, that should’ve been reflected in the voter turnout.

The Department of Justice announced this week that is has launched a civil rights investigation into the Chicago Police Department’s pattern and practices and will focus on the use of force and accountability within the police department.

The day before, student protesters staged a “die-in” at Daley Plaza. Emanuel apologized this week. Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez is our guest this week on Newsviews.