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February 4, 2022

Chicago Ex-Cop Who Murdered Laquan McDonald Released After Just Three Years in Prison
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In Chicago, the former police officer who shot and killed Black teenager
Laquan Mc Donald in 2014 walked free from prison Thursday. Jason Van
Dyke, who is white, served a little over three years - less than half
his nearly seven-year prison sentence - before being released for good
behavior. Van Dyke shot 17-year-old Laquan Mc Donald 16 times, but the
Chicago Police Department attempted to cover up the events, with the
help of then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Activists are now calling for federal
charges against Van Dyke. Several protests took place in Chicago
yesterday, including in front of the Federal Plaza. This is Bishop Tavis
Grant of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Bishop Tavis Grant: "We know that night 12 officers were on the scene
who did not render any aid to Laquan Mc Donald, and he died on the
street. We know that reports were falsified. We know that witnesses were
tampered with. And we know that the video was suppressed by the City
Hall for over 400 days. Sixteen shots and a cover-up."

Rev. Jesse Jackson was also present. He hand-delivered a letter to the
U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago backing the call for federal charges.
Later in the broadcast, we'll speak to community organizer Will
Calloway, who pushed for the release of the video showing Laquan Mc
Donald's murder. We'll also be joined by Justin Blake, the uncle of
Jacob Blake.


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