Chicago protesters continue to target Rahm Emanuel, Anita Alverez

Thomson ReutersChicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel listens to remarks at a news conference in ChicagoCHICAGO (Reuters) – 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 police shooting of a 17-year-old black teenager.

Laquan McDonald’s great uncle, surrounded by other family members, also sent a message Friday to President Obama. Yet, the dash cam video that was released in November of this year contradicts what was filed in the police report on the incident. There have been allegations of a cover-up and calls for new leadership at City Hall and the State’s Attorney’s office. But a judge ordered the city to release the footage last month. A few activists with them wore T-shirts that read “Rahm Failed Us”. “They were marching because they could feel the pain”, Pastor Hunter said. Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez is our guest this week on Newsviews.

Attorney Jeffrey Neslund says the agreement not to release the video was part of a $5 million settlement approved by the city in April with the family of Laquan McDonald. The county’s top public prosecutor announced charges against the officer just hours before the video was made public.

Emanuel fought the release of the video, saying he did not want to jeopardize an ongoing investigation. “Had to say something on Saturday; see you at church on Sunday”.

Alvarez also expressed last week that she was firm on her intention to stay in office, despite the growing cries for her to step down. He fired the police chief and named a new head of the independent body that investigates police conduct.

The group said holding elected officials accountable is what their protest is all about.

“He didn’t fit in his personality the profile that Jason Van Dyke had of him, and all black boys, in his mind”, Hunter said. “He was a jokester”.

Police brutality against minorities in the United States has always been a major point of concern, resulting in large-scale demonstrations across the country and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Records show he was taken from his house at the age of 3 because the state’s Department of Children and Family Services determined his mother didn’t provide proper supervision.

More protests are planned for Friday, the religious leaders said.