Protesters block Chicago Streets over video of Laquan McDonald's killing
Baku, November 25, AZERTAC
Hundreds of protesters closed a major Chicago intersection Tuesday night after authorities released a "disturbing" dashcam video of the moment a cop shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times last year, according to NBC News.
Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, 37, turned himself in Tuesday and was ordered held without bond on a charge of first-degree murder in Laquan's death in October 2014.
City and state police walked alongside demonstrators, who largely remained peaceful as they clogged the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Michigan Avenue in the South Loop. The protest started when 30 to 40 people met in an art gallery after City Hall released the graphic video, saying they were there to reflect and to discuss their emotions.
As more people joined, they marched about a block to Roosevelt Road, chanting "16 shots!" and "Is this a joke? They think it's a joke!"
"If we want young people to believe in the system, the system has got to work," said Michael Pfleger, senior pastor of St. Sabina Church and a prominent Chicago activist.
Protesters remained on the streets at 1:30 a.m. local time (2:30 a.m. ET) but police declined to comment on whether arrests had been made.
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