Palm Sunday demonstrations held at all CPD districts

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Religious leaders organized protests and vigils at each of the 22 Chicago Police Department districts buildings on Sunday, a push they dubbed Palm Sunday Takeover.

In Chicago Lawn, they blocked the streets. In Belmont-Cragin they prayed. Each event looked a little different, but each had the same message - end police brutality.

Barricades were set up at 25th District, located at 5555 W. Grand Ave. on the city's West Side, to prevent crowds from going inside. However, the event was not combative.

Instead, demonstrators thanked officers, giving them a barrel of apples, noting that one "bad apple" or "officer who abuses their power" can impact all of the apples.

"We feel like we need to end the culture of cover-up," said Rev. Marshall Hatch. "Ninety-five percent of you guys stellar, you do a great job."

The group wants to disband the city's Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA), the agency tasked with investigating police misconduct and replace it with a truly independent auditor.

"IPRA serves under the mayor's office," Hatch said. "It's intimately tied to law enforcement. It is neither independent nor does it have much authority."

City Hall did not respond to the protests, which come just as the mayor is considering candidates to permanently replace ousted Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

In response, a CPD spokeswoman said, "We respect people's rights to demonstrate."