Protesters Shut Down Congress Ave To Demand Emanuel And Alvarez Resign

By aaroncynic in News on Dec 16, 2015 2:32PM

At least sixteen demonstrators were arrested Tuesday evening for forming a blockade at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Clark Street, demanding that Rahm Emanuel and Anita Alvarez tender their resignations.

Members of the local anti-violence groups Lifted Voices, the Chicago Light Brigade and Project NIA stretched across Clark Street, attached at the arms by lockboxes covered in Christmas lights to represent the 475 Chicagoans who “have fallen to violence during the last year.” The blockade was comprised of 16 individuals to represent the 16 shots that police officer Jason Van Dyke fired at Laquan McDonald, killing him. Van Dyke has since been charged with first-degree murder.

In the shadow of both the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement field offices and the Metropolitan Correctional Center, some supporters on the sidelines rearranged a Christmas carol to send Emanuel and Alvarez a message, singing “resign, resign, Emanuel...and Alvarez must go as well.”

"Black and Indigenous people are the most likely groups to fall to police violence nationwide, and we are taking a stand, here and now, in a city that has been devastated by state violence," said Kelly Hayes, an organizer with Lifted Voices.

In the wake of the release of the video showing McDonald’s death, several top law enforcement officials have either resigned or been fired from their posts, and calls for the resignations of both Emanuel and Alvarez have increased greatly, despite the mayor’s seemingly less-than-sincere apology. “These empty gestures are too little, too late for the 475 Chicagoans who have fallen to violence during the last year,” said the groups in a press release, adding:

“The tragic loss of life in Chicago in 2015, coupled with recent scandals around police violence, make clear that under Rahm Emanuel's leadership, the Chicago police have not only failed to keep Chicagoans safe, but have also contributed to the culture of violence in our city.”

The demonstrators managed to shut down traffic at the intersection for about an hour before police loaded at least 16 of them into trucks and took them to the District 1 station at the intersection of 18th and State streets.