RAINBOW PUSH COALITION HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO IN REFERENCE TO POLICE SHOOTING OF LAQUAN McDONALD

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

I just watched a live streamed press conference from Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Push Coalition, which took place yesterday in Chicago - 

I'm sharing the link with you here  please watch it  - it's very constructive and instructive - especially for those of us in other communities who are also battling the egregious abuse of power wielded at the hands of the local police departments, and in many cases co-signed by the local mayors and other minions who are suppose to represent the people, but put their own interests first.

http://livestream.com/PushTVLive/events/4554255/videos/106001690

Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel, while commended for having fired the superintendent of the police department, has also been called into question in reference to other vital video information that has yet to be revealed to the public.

There are also calls for federal investigation of the entire process on the part of Attorney General Loretta Lynch.  On Tuesday, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan requested that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate whether the Chicago Police Department's practices violate federal and constitutional law.  Madigan in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch asked that the investigation weigh, among other things, the department's use of deadly force and whether a pattern or practice of discriminatory policing exists.

Additionally, there are calls for Chicago's a.g., Anita Alvarez, to step done for complicity in the cover up and a long line of injustices vis a vis the Police and the Citizens of Chicago's Black community.  They have threatened to vote her out and are vowing to launch a voter registration campaign so comprehensive she'll have no chance of re-election.

I posted this link for those who have the temerity and the gall to question whether or not Rev. Jesse Jackson is on the case in reference to these atrocities.  The same criticism has been leveled at Rev. Al Sharpton.  It's apparent that those who have made such accusations are not aware that they each head coalitions - which they put together - of individuals, activists, expertise, and supporters - who bring their collective expertise and dedication together in the interest of justice and change.

There are protest demonstrations taking place in the streets of Chicago, while others are wasting their money on Christmas gifts that go to continue to underwrite some of the very people are the cause of the problems.  The ones who underwrite corrupt politicians and keep them in office as long as they turn a blind eye to brutality and bias.

And the coalition is comprehenve - they include experts on judicial and legislative issues; criminal justice, media, community activism, etc.  It's not a one size fits all organization.  While some are leading protest movements, others are in city hall dealing with the mayor, while others are in DC dealing with the Attorney General's office.  

Nor are they afraid to call a spade a spade.  This is not a week-end protest - they are in it for the long haul, as evidenced by the days of demonstrations which finally resulted in  Mayor Emanuel's firing of the city's police superintendent.

Even with the squad-car video showing a white Chicago police officer shooting a Laquan McDonald 16 times  on October 20, 2014, the foot dragging had continued, until the protesters showed they were not going to take it any more.


The video footage of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald's fatal shooting the night of Oct. 20, 2014, shows that the police lied about what happened.  A police spokesman, described McDonald lunging at officers before shooting began; while another police statement  after the shooting said McDonald had refused to drop a knife and "continued to approach the officers." Initial police information said McDonald was killed by a single shot to the chest.
But the video shows McDonald walking down the middle of a four-lane street. He then appears to veer away from police as Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is now charged with murder, opens fire. The video seems to show McDonald with something in his hand. Prosecutors say a 3-inch blade recovered from the scene had been folded into the handle. - Pan African Newswire
Activists contend city and police department officials dragged their feet on the investigation and video release and perhaps even sought to cover up what happened.
Interestingly, the dash cam's audio did not function on any of the police vehicles - really??!!!
These are modern cameras that are set up in Chicago police cars  so audio records along with video.  So how could it be that none of the dash-cams had audio?  Hmmm...

 Now that you know, what are you - especially you in Chicago - going to do about it? 

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria 














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