GUILTY IL - Laquan McDonald, 17, fatally shot, Chicago PD charged, 20 Oct 2014 -J. VanDyke GUILTY*

[Montjoy]

Every one of the officers who filed reports that contradict the video to substantiate the fiction reported by Van Dyke should face charges. Every single one of them. That has to happen to begin to regain the smallest bit of integrity.

And they should lose their jobs. They confirm some of the public's worst fears about the police and the 'thin blue line' -- that they serve themselves first and foremost. There's not just dishonesty there -- that all of them contradict the video shows collusion or conspiracy, which, in this case, means nothing less than corruption. Why should anyone trust officers like this? And the only reason we know about it is because there was an investigation, a year after the incident. Just think about how many times this garbage goes on without anyone finding out about it.

 

[i.b.nora]

Watching CNN - Announcement coming soon in 2nd Chicago Police shooting. It is 11:09 CT.

 

[i.b.nora]

Also this morning, in case anyone missed it:

Justice Department Probes Chicago Police For Civil Rights Violations
The DOJ investigation is the largest ever into a city law enforcement department.
By Kim Bellware
Reporter, The Huffington Post

“The Justice Department will investigate the Chicago police for possible civil rights violations, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Monday morning.
As the second largest force in the nation, Chicago's will be the biggest city department the Attorney General's office has ever investigated (Puerto Rico's was the largest one overall).
The investigation will focus on the racial and ethnic disparities involving the Chicago Police Department’s use of force, use of deadly force and its's systems of accountability, Lynch said.

"Our goal in this investigation, as in all of our pattern-or-practice investigations, is not to focus on individuals, but to improve systems," Lynch said. "To ensure that officers are being provided with the tools they need -- including training, policy guidance and equipment -- to be more effective, to partner with civilians and to strengthen public safety."​

More ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chicago-police-investigation-doj_56659ec8e4b072e9d1c6a71b

 

[i.b.nora]

Anita Alvarez, Cook County State's Attorney now presenting to the press, the package they have put together on the Police shooting of Ronald Johnson.

They have a “detailed” description of the entire incident in pictures and words.

We can read the press reports later, but I have a feeling it will all lead to a finding of "justified shooting". I could be wrong.

 

[i.b.nora]

All I can say is, it was fascinating. The presentation lasted at least an hour. There will be no charges against the officer.

I do think this presentation and this case today marks a turning point in the justice system. The prosecutors won't be able to hide anymore. The expectations have changed.

She would not answer any questions about the McDonald case.

I think her days as the head attorney for Cook County are numbered.

 

[i.b.nora]

Did anyone watch Rahm Emanuel's press conference today?

 

[bluesneakers]

Did anyone watch Rahm Emanuel's press conference today?

No. Did he make any major announcements?

 

[bluesneakers]

IPRA chief wants to hand off Laquan McDonald probe to city watchdog

The head of the Independent Police Review Authority said Tuesday that she wants an agency besides her own to look into the conduct of the officers at the scene of the Laquan McDonald shooting, but she vowed to reinvestigate another controversial police case involving a video.

Sharon Fairley called on City Hall’s Inspector General Joseph Ferguson to investigate questions surrounding Officer Jason Van Dyke’s fatal shooting of McDonald, 17, on Oct. 20, 2014.

“Public confidence in the investigation will be enhanced if it is conducted from this point forward by an agency that has had no involvement with the matter and can bring a fresh look at the facts,” Fairley said in a statement.

They're also going to reopen an older case - Philip Coleman, from 2012.

Coleman was transported to a hospital, where officers said he was combative again. They zapped him repeatedly with a Taser and struck him with a baton, according to police records. He died hours later from a reaction to a sedative the hospital gave him, according to the medical examiner’s office.

IPRA conducted a previous investigation that found none of the officers engaged in wrongdoing in their handling of Coleman.

Fairley said IPRA will reopen the Coleman case to see whether the officers were within department guidelines and whether policy changes are needed to avoid a similar incident.

 

[bluesneakers]

Protesters Call for Mayor Emanuel's Resignation in Citywide Walkout


"We're going to see protests lead to unrest unless we see constructive change that leads to justice."

Hundreds of protesters demanding an investigation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration flooded downtown Chicago streets Wednesday afternoon as part of a citywide walkout just hours after Emanuel publicly apologized for the shooting death of Laquan McDonald and vowed to fix broken Chicago police practices.

The group chanted "Whose city? Our city," "Who's got to go? Rahm's got to go," and "No more killer cops."

"It's disappointing," said Bishop Tavis Grant, a spokesman for the family of 38-year-old Phillip Coleman who died in 2012 while in Chicago police custody. Recently released video of the incident shows a group of officers shooting Coleman with a Taser before dragging his body down a hallway while handcuffed. Coleman died a day later.

"There was not a real apology," Grant said of Emanuel's speech, "and Phillip's name was not mentioned. It's not enough. We're going to see protests lead to unrest unless we see constructive change that leads to justice."

The first of Wednesday's protests, by a group called the Coalition for a New Chicago, gathered inside City Hall at 8 a.m. Emanuel apologized during a special city council session held at 9 a.m. to address the ongoing crisis his administration is facing.
UPDATEDProsecutor: No Charges Filed in 2nd Dashcam Investigation

Less than an hour later, a group of Christian clergy plans to gather at an entrance to the building. Two other demonstrations are planned, at City Hall and in a nearby plaza.

 

[Cubby]

ÙNo link because this is from memory from this mornings presser from Emanuel. He not only mentioned McDonald and Coleman, he also mentioned some black on black crime by mentioning the 9 yr child killed as a result of gang retaliation and the 14 yr old girl given a weapon from her uncle do she could kill another teenage girl over donething said on social media.

Additionally, the misconduct trial of a black officer who had his gun in the victims mouth to the back of his mouth and a taser on the victims groin while interogating the victim has just started. Of interest imo, is this is the first I've heard of that case and there isn't any protesters demanding justice for this police misconduct when it too was black on black.

There are two sides to this coin. If protesters are going to demand accountability, it needs to be demanded regardless of the race of the perpetrator. Otherwise, it's going to be viewed as just some beyotching equating to a don't look here, look there when it comes to the changes necessary with black on black crime too. To be race blind, it needs to be blind to all races with no one race being singled out.

Personally I thought Emanual's message this morning was a good start. Especially since this issue goes back at least a century and isn't only on RE's watch.

 

[i.b.nora]

I think today was the first that at least some of the protesters learned of the 'gun in the mouth' case. I saw one guy interviewed on the street today who said as much. He said he was going to research it. I seriously don't think they are going to overlook it because the officer is black.

If one was to think that the Chicago protesters are only concerned with white police, I think they aren't seeing and hearing the same thing I am seeing and hearing.

And, today's protest was specifically aimed at Rahn Emanuel and calling for him to resign. The protesters today seemed well organized to me. Rahm has been behaving badly, imo, and he is really trying to deflect. Some of his minions are starting to pull away.

 

[bluesneakers]

I think today was the first that at least some of the protesters learned of the 'gun in the mouth' case. I saw one guy interviewed on the street today who said as much. He said he was going to research it. I seriously don't think they are going to overlook it because the officer is black.

If one was to think that the Chicago protesters are only concerned with white police, I think they aren't seeing and hearing the same thing I am seeing and hearing.

And, today's protest was specifically aimed at Rahn Emanuel and calling for him to resign. The protesters today seemed well organized to me. Rahm has been behaving badly, imo, and he is really trying to deflect. Some of his minions are starting to pull away.

I didn't realize the case was in court right now, but there were protests in 2014.

I agree - the officer's race doesn't make a difference.

 

[i.b.nora]

Here is an article from September 2014 about the 'gun in the mouth case'. Familiar names, similar to the other cases, all was being swept under the rug:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-police-gun-lawsuit-20140909-story.html

Chicago cop sued over incident in which he allegedly shoved gun into man's mouth
Jeremy Gorner
Chicago Tribune reporter

“A lawyer for a man who alleges a Chicago police commander shoved a gun into his mouth ripped Superintendent Garry McCarthy for taking no action against the commander even after DNA evidence months ago appeared to corroborate the incident.

A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of Rickey Williams comes about two weeks after the commander, Glenn Evans, was criminally charged for allegedly putting the barrel of his service weapon “deep down” Williams' throat, holding a Taser against his groin and threatening to kill him.

The suit alleged that the incident last year started oddly -- as Williams waited at a bus stop in the Park Manor neighborhood, Evans, then commander of the South Side's Grand Crossing District, pulled up in a squad car and stared at Williams for several minutes. Unnerved, Williams, then 22, took off running and was chased down by Evans and as many as 10 other officers in an abandoned house, where the abuse took place out of public view, according to the suit.

While McCarthy has long emphasized the importance of improving the police department's relations with the community, Williams' lawyer, Antonio Romanucci, blasted the superintendent for his past praise of Evans' aggressive style and said the allegations of brutality further alienate police from the community.”​

Much much more. Read the article.

 

[i.b.nora]

Well, this is a very interesting article:

Feud Between McCarthy and City's Lawyer Blocked Police Reform, Sources Say
By Mark Konkol | December 9, 2015 8:46am | Updated on December 9, 2015 9:55am

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/201...itys-lawyer-blocked-police-reform-sources-say

“CHICAGO — A yearslong rift between ousted police Supt. Garry McCarthy and city attorney Stephen Patton effectively derailed the former top cop’s efforts to make substantial reforms to the city’s police disciplinary system in 2013, top city sources told DNAinfo Chicago.

The revelation of a behind-the-scenes battle between the city's top police officer and its top lawyer shines new light on the city's Police Department, which is under siege and under federal investigation in the wake of the Laquan McDonald shooting video.”​

 

[Cubby]

I think today was the first that at least some of the protesters learned of the 'gun in the mouth' case. I saw one guy interviewed on the street today who said as much. He said he was going to research it. I seriously don't think they are going to overlook it because the officer is black.

If one was to think that the Chicago protesters are only concerned with white police, I think they aren't seeing and hearing the same thing I am seeing and hearing.

And, today's protest was specifically aimed at Rahn Emanuel and calling for him to resign. The protesters today seemed well organized to me. Rahm has been behaving badly, imo, and he is really trying to deflect. Some of his minions are starting to pull away.

I respect your opinion and I respect you research on cases. However, as a life long Chicagoan who has seen Chi town local news day in and day out, many times several news broadcasrs per day, I can say without a doubt Rahm behaving badly isn't even one tenth of what is occuring here. The media dictates what people see, what's newsworthy, the media is more to blame tor slanted reporting than Rahm hands down.

If there is any anger about black on black crime it isn't deemed newsworthy locally and certainly isn't a speck on the screen nationally.

99.5 percent of what has led the distrust and police misconduct being swept under the rug occured before Rahm was on the clock.

I'm not trying to say either side is right or wrong. There are rights and wrongs on both sides. IMO for this can only get better if the playng field becomes level, not some teeter totter. I don't blame anyone for thinking this may all be lip service. Based on history they have every right to think that way. I just hope people don't remain so disillusioned they're blind to genuine attempts for improvement.

Time will tell.

 

[PeregrineFaulkner]

Funny, I was just reading this article describing a number of anti-violence protests in the black communities of Chicago. So I guess they do occur fairly frequently.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2015...o-protest-violence-their-communities-all-time

"People are working on this issue every day, addressing it, and putting a focus on it. The problem is not whether people in the community are addressing it. The real question is if the broader city is addressing it enough or if the media is addressing it enough," said outspoken anti-violence activist the Rev. Michael Pfleger.

 

[bluesneakers]

I respect your opinion and I respect you research on cases. However, as a life long Chicagoan who has seen Chi town local news day in and day out, many times several news broadcasrs per day, I can say without a doubt Rahm behaving badly isn't even one tenth of what is occuring here. The media dictates what people see, what's newsworthy, the media is more to blame tor slanted reporting than Rahm hands down.

If there is any anger about black on black crime it isn't deemed newsworthy locally and certainly isn't a speck on the screen nationally.

99.5 percent of what has led the distrust and police misconduct being swept under the rug occured before Rahm was on the clock.

I'm not trying to say either side is right or wrong. There are rights and wrongs on both sides. IMO for this can only get better if the playng field becomes level, not some teeter totter. I don't blame anyone for thinking this may all be lip service. Based on history they have every right to think that way. I just hope people don't remain so disillusioned they're blind to genuine attempts for improvement.

Time will tell.

Why do you think that is? IMO Black people care a great deal, and are angry of course, but it's not deemed newsworthy because white people don't care, and so it doesn't get as much attention. However when black people draw attention to white cops, all of the sudden white people care so the media report it and milk it for all it's worth.

Actually, Blacks Do Care About Black Crime
You may not have noticed black protests against crime, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t happened

“One can hear birds chirp while listening for public outcry over the deaths of black citizens killed by black perpetrators. Somehow, these black lives don’t seem to matter,” writes Murdock, who doesn’t note that—in those cases—perpetrators are usually caught and convicted.

And then there’s former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who—after President Obama spoke on Ferguson—told CNN that “[Obama] also should have spent 15 minutes on training the [black] community to stop killing each other.”

In 2012, Gallup found that, compared to the general public, blacks were more worried about “being attacked” while driving their car, more worried about being the victim of a hate crime, and—most salient for our discussion—more worried about “being murdered.”
..
26 percent of black Americans rank crime as the most important issue facing the area they live.

It’s easy to find examples of marches and demonstrations against crime. In the last four years, blacks have held community protests against violence in Chicago; New York; Newark, New Jersey; Pittsburgh; Saginaw, Michigan; and Gary, Indiana. Indeed, there’s a whole catalog of movies, albums, and sermons from a generation of directors, musicians, and religious leaders, each urging peace and order.

Regardless of cause or concern, a community doesn’t forfeit fair treatment because it has crime. That was true then when the scourge was lynching, and it’s true now that the scourge is unjust police violence. Say what you will about “black-on-black crime,” just don’t pretend it has anything to do with unfair killings at the hands of the state.

Much more at link, including links to other articles, studies, and sources.

 

[katydid23]

Funny, I was just reading this article describing a number of anti-violence protests in the black communities of Chicago. So I guess they do occur fairly frequently.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2015...o-protest-violence-their-communities-all-time

Yes, that article talks about 30 or 40 people protesting at a time.

In Chicago we just had thousands marching for 5 days in a row, closing down major intersections, malls, and forcing their way into the courthouse.

Meanwhile, that weekend, :


This past weekend, in a two day period, TWENTY EIGHT people were shot. Four were killed, 22 wounded.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/12/07/4-killed-22-wounded-in-weekend-shootings-2/


CHICAGO (STMW) — Four people were killed and at least 22 others were wounded in shootings across the city between Friday afternoon and early Monday.
======================================================

Did thousands of people storm the hood and demand that the gang bangers stand down? Did they block the streets and demand the drug dealers stop shooting at innocent bystanders?

No, they want the Mayor to be fired, the DA to be fired, the police chief to be fired, most of the cops to be fired. They are upset because they are 3% of the population but 56% of those in jail are African American. I heard the woman leading the march yelling about that statistic, saying it was a sign of racism. And yet, while she was leading her people in protest, and complaining about the unfairness of their arrests, 28 people were shot in the neighborhoods.

Anyone protesting that? Besides the 33 'mothers against violence?'

 

[i.b.nora]

I love watching democracy in action.

http://abc7chicago.com/news/chicago-protesters-stage-die-in-at-city-hall/1117032/

CHICAGO PROTESTERS STAGE 'DIE-IN' AT CITY HALL

“Wearing their white coats, about 100 medical students took part in a "die-in" protest at Chicago City Hall. They want Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign.

The group of students lay in silence for 16 minutes, signifying the number of times Laquan McDonald was shot by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in October 2014. ...”

*

“Emanuel, who apologized on Wednesday, to step down. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets after his address. At issue: What he knew about the shooting when, how the investigation was handled, and why Officer Van Dyke was not charged with murder for 13 months.

*

“"We want Rahm Emanuel to resign because we're tired of the cover-up. We're tired of all of the police brutality. We're tired of the systemic racism in Chicago and something needs to be done about it," Rush medical student Paris Austell said.”

*

“On Thursday, Emanuel is expected to announce how the city will handle the search for McCarthy's replacement. He is expected to solicit public input.

More demonstrations are expected Thursday afternoon.”​

The people deserve better and want better. They elected Rahm Emanuel to work on Chicago's decades old problems and it appears he has not done so. In fact, it appears he is covering up what he has done. It would be uncharitible of me to wish him to fail. But, to me, an outsider, he appears to have been consumed with his own need to first acheive and then be seen as Mayor of a major American city. He has had four years, and it seems that any attempts to try to begin to solve age old problems have thus far failed completely. I personally don't think he understands the problems.

I just don't see him as a problem solver. I see him as someone who is always consumed with the next election.

The problems are massive and they include all of America.

 

[bluesneakers]

Powerful images.

[video=twitter;675003282096541700]https://twitter.com/nbcchicago/status/675003282096541700[/video]