Hundreds Demand Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Resignation In Loop Protest

By aaroncynic in News on Dec 19, 2015 3:51PM

Hundreds of demonstrators packed the Loop Friday afternoon for another march demanding the resignation of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Groups calling for him to step down over the Laquan McDonald case and other instances of police corruption and violence met again at Daley Plaza around 3:16 p.m. This was the second such demonstration in a week.

“We were lied to. Rahm stole everyone’s vote, manipulated the city, and we definitely are seeing his dictatorship in action," said Rousemary Vega, who organized this and the previous demonstration demanding Emanuel resign. “When your people call for your resignation, when your people say ‘you suck at your job’, when your people say this train came to get you, you jump on it.”

The rally was one of three that took place during the day, with a morning protest where demonstrators used dozens of cars to slow down traffic at Midway Airport, and at noon, where a small group confronted officer Jason Van Dyke outside the Cook County Courthouse. The Associated Press reports Van Dyke appeared in court for the first time since he was indicted by a Grand Jury on Wednesday. He faces six counts of first-degree murder and one count of official misconduct for shooting and killing Laquan McDonald.

Demonstrators shut down traffic in front of City Hall, frequently stopping to count to 16 to mark the number of times Van Dyke shot McDonald.

Counting the shots at City Hall #LaquanMcDonald #ResignRahm #rahmresign pic.twitter.com/zQ4jzn9b06

— Aaron Cynic (@aaroncynic) December 18, 2015

In addition to demanding Emanuel’s resignation, demonstrators also demanded the resignation of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, with some volunteering to help attendees register to vote if she already hasn’t. Alvarez faces two challengers in the March election - Donna Moore and Kim Foxx.

Protesters then took their march north on Michigan Avenue, eventually heading to the busy shopping district along the Magnificent Mile. A similar demonstration is planned to occur in the area on Christmas eve, similar to the ones that shut down stores on Black Friday.

Activists also said that the problem doesn’t end with Rahm Emanuel’s resignation - rather that it begins with it. Some say CPD needs to change its tactics and culture, while other have called for funds to be divested from the department and put back into neighborhoods.

“In our communities we need a new cpd culture in which we feel safe in our neighborhoods,” said Jay Malgreen. “Where my two month old son, when he gets older, he can feel safe in his neighborhood. We need new resources in our communities on the west and the south and east sides. Because $500 million are going to the misconduct of police over the years, but no millions are coming to us.”