*Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel apologized for the 2014 police shooting death of Laquan McDonald, but protesters still want him out of office, as well as Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, who is also under fire for her office’s role in the investigation.
Demonstrators by the hundreds filled the streets of downtown Chicago on Wednesday, calling for the pair to step down. The hashtags birthed for this movement: #ResignRahm and #ByeAnita.
As part of a citywide walkout, protesters gathered at Daley Plaza at noon and started marching on North Dearborn. Folks were also seen sitting down and kneeling in the roadway at Washington and Clark. They continued marching for several blocks before attempting to enter the Chicago Board of Trade building.
The demonstration later shut down State Street as protesters marched through Magnificent Mile, one of the city’s major shopping districts.
Protesters head down Mag Mile pic.twitter.com/p90nMIOHFM
— Monica Eng (@monicaeng) December 9, 2015
Just before 3 p.m., marchers had made their way to Michigan Avenue and were blocking traffic.
Moment of silence for #LaquanMcDonald at Michigan and Wacker. pic.twitter.com/ZdpIfip6GI — Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) December 9, 2015
An exact estimate on the number of demonstrators at the protest wasn’t immediately clear, but more than 1,800 people said in a Facebook group they would attend the walkout.
“We will now hold our leaders accountable for the transgressions they commit and that are committed under their watch,” the group wrote on Facebook. “Task forces, press releases, symbolic replacements of one crony for another are no longer enough to mollify the masses.”
Earlier, protesters gathered at City Hall, calling for the mayor’s resignation, saying one mayoral speech can’t fix decades of police corruption that led to 17-year-old McDonald’s death at the hands of officer Jason Van Dyke.
About 200 protesters gathered outside council chambers during Emanuel’s special address to the city council and demanded to be let inside.
More pics and video of the protest from the Twitterverse below:
Wednesday’s protests have been largely led by students and young people demanding #ResignRahm pic.twitter.com/qidYup7s1h — Justin Madden (@IAmJustinMadden) December 9, 2015
— Dawn Rhodes (@rhodes_dawn) December 9, 2015
#LaquanMcDonald protesters march down Michigan Ave towards the bridge pic.twitter.com/T491NRBdL8 — Jenna Nohea Trautman (@jennanohea) December 9, 2015
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