Workers Center for Racial Justice

Campaigns

• Demand Justice for Laquan McDonald!

  On October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was brutally gunned down by 16 shots from Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. The murder was caught on police dashboard cameras and security video from the restaurant- which was erased by police. [1] With the release of this devastating video evidence, it is now clear that the police lied and Laquan did not act in an aggressive manner. More than a year later, even with full evidence, Chicago city officials did nothing but reassign Officer Van Dyke to desk duty. But now that sustained grassroots mobilizations forced the city to release the video, they are finally charging Van Dyke- not because they believe in justice, but only because they want to avoid mass outrage. In Chicago, Black women, Black men, and Black youth face extreme levels of anti-Black violence and terrorism at the hands of the police. The city of Chicago has no interest in justice and the US Justice Department has consistently failed to defend Black people from racist attacks by police. That is why we are calling for the resignation of the police superintendent and the state's attorney and calling on the governor to appoint a special prosecutor whose only job is to investigate police killings. In addition, we call for a truly independent investigation conducted by the United Nations and Organization of American States into the violation of the human rights of Black people in Cook county and the city of Chicago. Sources [1] “The video that will rip Chicago apart — and why you need to see it,” The Chicago Tribune, 11-10-2015, http://trib.in/1lk39d4 “Chicago Police Sued for Alleged Police Brutality” ABC 7, 07-09-2015, http://abc7.ws/1TqxzWQ

  34,490 of 35,000 Signatures

  Created by DeAngelo Bester
• Demand Mayor Rahm Emanuel Resign!

  On October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was brutally gunned down by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Even though Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel knew about this gruesome murder, it wasn’t until communities rose up in protest and a journalist sued the city of Chicago to get video footage of the murder released, that Mayor Emanuel decided to act [1]. In a recent op-ed, Mayor Emanuel stated “At the end of the day, I am the mayor and I own it. I take responsibility for what happened and I will fix it.” Since the release of the police dashboard camera, Mayor Emanuel has fired Chicago Police Supt. Gary McCarthy and assembled a five-person task force on police accountability [2]. However, these actions fail to address the role Mayor Emanuel played in covering up Laquan McDonald’s murder. Mayor Emanuel’s negligent and possibly criminal leadership kept the McDonald family in the dark about what really happened to their son. Instead of demanding that killer cop Jason Van Dyke be held accountable for his violent actions, Mayor Emanuel has been working hard to protect his own effort to get re-elected. Before the video was released, Mayor Emanuel had praised the efforts of his former police chief, defended the city’s investigations of police shootings, and resisted a federal investigation into the police department. By turning a blind eye to the brutal murder of Laquan McDonald, Mayor Emanuel is clearly demonstrating his lack of concern for Black lives. Chicago residents deserve better! Demand that Mayor Rahm Emanuel resigns. DeAngelo Bester, Workers Center for Racial Justice Charlene Carruthers, BYP100 Byron Hobbs, SOUL Katelyn Johnson, Action Now References “Rahm Emanuel, Anita Alvarez – where’s your resignation?” The Grio, 12-02-2015, http://on.thegrio.com/1XN4QRG “Rahm Emanuel Denies Laquan McDonald Cover-Up In Op-Ed” The Huffington Post, 12-04-2015, http://huff.to/1IvbzbQ

  12,265 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Workers Center For Racial Justice, Southsiders Organized for Unity & Liberation, and Action Now
• Tell Chicago's City Council: Police aren't above the law

  Chicago has a serious problem with violent and unaccountable policing, and one of the biggest obstacles to accountability and reform is the Fraternal Order of Police, and their contract with the city. Police should not be above the law, but provisions in their contract have allowed them to assault, brutalize, and kill Black people without any real consequence.The epidemic of police violence and corruption will continue until we change the rules and hold the police accountable like everyone else.

  1,609 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by DeAngelo Bester