Chicago mayor apologises, protesters demand his resignation

The Justice Department announced this week that it will be investigating the use of force by Chicago’s police department, looking for a pattern of unconstitutional or discriminatory behavior.

Protesters who have been calling for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign ever since video of the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was made public were not moved by the mayor’s apology on Wednesday, reports CBS Chicago.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says it’s an unacceptable that there are parents in Chicago who feel they must warn their children to be wary of police officers. He also reversed course on whether the U.S. Justice Department should launch a civil-rights investigation, saying he would welcome it only after presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other top Democrats endorsed the idea.

High-profile killings of black men by mostly white police officers in USA cities have prompted a national debate and protests about the use of excessive force by police. Hundreds of protestors swarmed the streets of downtown Chicago, from City Hall to the financial district, shutting down traffic and even spilling into stores.

“I’m sorry”, the mayor said, promising “complete and total reform of the system”.

“Everybody knows that he is passionate and he is tough and he is dogged in making sure that the city of Chicago is not just the coldest city, but also the greatest city”, Obama said during a visit to Emanuel’s campaign office in February. Rahm said some good things today but hes going to sweep it under the rug unless we keep the pressure up. “And if we’re going to fix it I want you to understand it’s my responsibility with you”, Emanuel said.

“We just witnessed the mayor basically put a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound”, said Bishop James Dukes, pastor of Liberation Christian Center in Englewood. A video of the event released last month shows McDonald moving away from police as they fatally shoot him 16 times in the middle of the road.

Rachel Brown was sitting in her New York University dorm room last week when she decided to make a Facebook event for a party-a resignation party for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. “The video of a police shooting like this in Chicago could have buried Mr. Emanuel’s chances for re-election”.

Two alderman support Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s address to the City Council, saying that the Laquan McDonald video was key to sparking calls for police reform. Several of the players involved have either stepped down from their posts or resigned-including Garry McCarthy (CPD superintendent), Scott Ando (head of Chicago’s Independent Police Review Authority), and Constantine “Dean” Andrews (CPD chief of detectives).

Some say I should have ordered a departure from standard procedure and released the tape before the prosecutors had acted.

Second, the mayor discussed the Chicago Police Department and the culture of policing in America.

Echoing chants heard at many other protests in the wake of Van Dyke being charged with murder, and the release of the video showing the officer shooting McDonald, the protesters shouted “step down, now!” and “16 shots and a cover-up!” after the die-in.

Emanuel gave a speech Wednesday apologizing for McDonald’s death and promising to make it right, after which protesters filled the streets of the city.

“There may be some brilliant political play here”, Williamson said, “but I think the time of political plays has passed”.