Chicago protesters continue to demand change
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Calls for justice for Laquan McDonald continued Friday with Rainbow PUSH Coalition members marching around City Hall in the afternoon, and then a small, separate group briefly blocked traffic on Lake Shore Drive during the evening rush hour.
Thursday evening, a different group of protesters marched from the Loop to Lake Shore Drive, blocking traffic briefly on the main thoroughfare during rush hour by laying in the road. Groups chanted "16 shots" and protesters continued to call for resignations of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.
The group of about three dozen started at about 4:30 p.m. near State and Jackson, marching northbound and then onto LSD, blocking traffic and major intersections along the way.
A third group held a vigil to remember victims of gun violence at Daley Plaza Friday evening. The event marked the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting, which killed 20 children and six teachers. During the vigil, participants read the names of those killed by guns in the past year.
At noon at City Hall, demonstrators called for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to submit to a special hearing about his handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting by a police officer, and others continue to call for his resignation.
"He has no credibility. It's going to be very hard for the next three and a half years he has remaining on his term. He's losing the confidence of the people," said Sylvester Boyd, a protester.
A planned rally, called 009th District Pro-Police Rally,to support police officers on Saturday was postponed, organizers said. In a Facebook post, organizers said that due to the orverwhelming response they wanted to ensure that the event better organized. Instead, they ask supporters to "show our support and appreciation by saying thank you to our Officers when you see them. The Chicago Police have a toy drive, so please if you can stop at your local District, drop off a toy, shake an Officers hand, and say thank you to them locally as a gathering of this size is not ideal for our already overworked Officers at this time."
PHOTOS: Protesters march following Emanuel apology
