Lambda Legal condemns police violence, stands With Chicago community
"We are outraged at the murder of Laquan McDonald and the time it has taken for Chicago officials to release the video and file charges. We extend our deepest sympathy to Laquan McDonald's family, and to every family affected by unnecessary and unjustified police violence. We hope that justice is done."
Yesterday, the city of Chicago was left reeling after the release of a brutally violent video showing the killing of Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old Black teenager who was shot 16 times by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in October 2014. Van Dyke was charged with First Degree Murder yesterday after a Cook County judge ordered the release of a Chicago Police Department dashcam video showing the shooting. Lambda Legal released the following statement from Executive Director Kevin Cathcart:
"This story is all too familiar, and, once again, shows unnecessary violence perpetrated against a Black person at the hands of the police — who take oaths to protect and serve all citizens. The subsequent inaction only furthered the pain of a community whose faith in this system is left wanting.
"We are outraged at the murder of Laquan McDonald, and the time it has taken for the Chicago Police Department to release the dashcam video and the State's Attorney to file charges. We extend our deepest sympathy to Laquan McDonald's family, and to every family affected by unnecessary and unjustified police violence. We hope that justice is done and that Laquan's family, friends, and community find the support they need.
"Lambda Legal has a long history of standing up against misconduct by police and other government officials. We know that bias and prejudice can lead to injustice. We will continue to work with our sister LGBT organizations and other civil rights organizations to fight to make sure that police are properly protecting and serving all the public, including LGBT people and people living with HIV."
ACLU statement
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois joins all Chicagoans in expressing our deep condolences to the family of Laquan McDonald, the young man killed by a Chicago police officer. We hope that this video advances a productive discussion across the City about policing, a dialogue that must include the public — from all neighborhoods — police, and elected officials.
The anger and frustration expressed by many African American residents of Chicago in viewing the video is understandable. Members of the African American community have seen mistreatment and, sadly, violence at the hands of the police for too long in the City. We hope that we can seize this moment to improve all aspects of policing, with a commitment towards creating better relations between the public and police.
It is time for real reforms in policing across the City, including better training that emphasizes de-escalation rather than force; increased transparency around police activities; and more public input and oversight of police activities in neighborhoods all across the City of Chicago.
This critical discussion about policing echoes the dialogue in communities all across the country, all of which are aimed at increasing public input into police activities.
Equality illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov:
We at Equality Illinois are outraged and saddened by the killing of Laquan McDonald. We offer our condolences and support to his family and friends.
As the advocacy voice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans, we stand in solidarity with those in Chicago and Illinois who fight for racial, economic, and social justice. We will continue to engage in focused advocacy, dialogue, and education to end violence against marginalized communities and to ensure lived equality for all people.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and the Pride Action Tank
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and the Pride Action Tank stand in solidarity with the family of Laquan McDonald and the protesters who are sacrificing their bodies to ensure that we do not return to business as usual after seeing the horrific video of McDonald being killed by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke.
The slow journey to justice for Laquan McDonald and his family is disgraceful and has its underpinnings in institutionalized racism — the same societal ill that accounts for the overrepresentation of blacks in various disease categories, including HIV. Blacks make up 50% of new HIV infections. Nearly all of the more than 20,000 Chicago Public School students who experienced homelessness last year were youth of color. A national response must be implemented to address the intersectionality of these issues and help eradicate the racism that fosters them.
AFC and the Pride Action Tank work with some of the most ignored people in society — people living with and vulnerable to HIV and related chronic diseases and LGBTQ people. Our work requires an intersectional approach that embraces the impact of race, gender identity, economic level, and more. We recognize that real reforms in policing, education, health care access, housing, jobs and so much more are critical to improving health outcomes and creating thriving communities.
AFC and the Pride Action Tank call on Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago City Council to improve training for police, review all police records for patterns of abuse, and take stronger action against the small number of police who are accountable for the most alleged abuses. We are committed to transforming systems, policies and resources so that there is no doubt that #BlackLivesMatter.
We encourage people to join efforts to ensure that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." Join the protests, raise your voices on social media and find other ways to stand in solidarity with McDonald's family. We also encourage you to attend the #BlackLivesMatter Conference: HIV, Stigma and Violence organized by AFC and partners on World AIDS Day, Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Chicago. Learn more and register at www.aidschicago.org/blacklivesmatter.
From The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance:
The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance is outraged and saddened by the death of Laquan McDonald. We express our condolences to his family and to all those who have experienced police violence. The Alliance works with young people across intersecting identities who are often the target of violence in their schools and communities. We join the voices speaking out against this senseless violence, the lack of accountability, and the need for systemic reform of these systems that continue to oppress Black youth and other youth of color.
The Alliance also stands in solidarity with BYP100 and organizations and individuals who are speaking out against the violent death of Laquan McDonald and applaud the youth activism being done to respond to this situation and hope for a day when all students are safe.
From Faith and Community Leaders, a call for Mayor Emanuel to adopt proposal for CPD reform
Nov. 25, 2015 (Chicago) — Faith leaders from the Community Renewal Society, a network of more than 75 church congregations, have met several times with Mayor Rahm Emanuel to demand structural reform of the Chicago Police Department, yet he has repeatedly rejected the organization's proposals, claiming that Chicago's system is working fine.
"We are appalled at the video released today showing the senseless killing of Laquan McDonald by a white police officer. Mayor Emanuel is woefully out of touch if he still believes Chicago's policing system is working fine," said Rev. Cy Fields, pastor of New Landmark Missionary Baptist church and a CRS board member. "This video shows clearly an urgent need for an independent police auditor in Chicago. We call on the mayor and the City Council to immediately consider and adopt CRS's proposed FAIR COPS ordinance."
The FAIR COPS (Freedom through Accountability, Investigation and Reform for Community Oversight of PolicingServices) ordinance would create a police auditor office staffed by attorneys, researchers and administrators who would have access to all police records and data to:
- Audit day-to-day compliances with federal, city and department codes
- Analyze patterns of police misconduct or bias
- Legislate changes in policies
"The FAIR COPS ordinance would lead to organizational change in the entire policing system. How many more young men of color must die before the Mayor comes to his senses and admits the current system is broken?" Rev. Fields said.
Currently no Chicago agency, including the independent police review authority, internal affairs, police board or inspector general, provides this kind of oversight. New York City, Los Angeles County, Seattle and Washington D.C. all have similar offices and Cleveland's recent consent decree with the Justice Department creates similar requirements.
Despite the fact that Chicago leads the nation in fatal police shootings and stop and frisks, the mayor rejected the groups call to create a police auditor office to investigate the entire system of policing for misconduct, abuse and policy reform.
Statistics show the following:
- In 2014, African-American Chicagoans were 9.4 times more likely than white Chicagoans to be shot by a police officer.
- Since its inception in 2007, the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) has recommended discipline for a meager1.2 percent of officers investigated for using excessive physical force.
- Since 2008, more than 10,000 complaints for excessive force have been filed by Chicagoans, yet only 4 officers have been dismissed for excessive force.
- Chicago has paid out nearly $500 million dollars in settlements over police abuse and misconduct since 2004.
"As a mother of an African-American man, I am disgusted that the mayor will allow him to be harassed and targeted," said Michelle Page, a community leader who has been present at all three meetings with the mayor. "My son isn't safe, none of our sons our safe, and the mayor is more concerned with his own power than bringing any real reform."
State's Attorney candidate Kim Foxx:
Justice delayed is justice denied for the McDonald family.
COOK COUNTY ( November 24, 2015 )—Kim Foxx, Candidate for Cook County State's Attorney, released the following statement Tuesday in response to the announcement that first-degree murder charges will be filed against Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke for the shooting death of Chicago teen Laquan McDonald:
"As we brace for the release of the video of Laquan McDonald's shooting, our entire county joins in mourning the violent death of another of our young people.
"We also send our thoughts and prayers to the family of Laquan. They have had to wait 400 days for State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to act to ensure justice is delivered in the case of their son's death.
"By waiting so long to press charges in this case, State's Attorney Alvarez has done McDonald family and the entire criminal justice system a heinous disservice.
"She waited until her hand was forced by intense political and media pressure surrounding the release of this painful video. She waited even after City Hall was prepared to pay the McDonald family $5 million in damages.
"Justice delayed so long for Laquan McDonald and his family is justice denied by State's Attorney Alvarez.
"This delay of justice has not only made life more difficult for the McDonald family—it has also worsened tensions between Chicago communities and the CPD, making it harder for police to do their jobs, eroding trust between young people and the police, and making Chicago families feel unsafe.
"As State's Attorney, I will deliver the families of victims in every case the swift, deliberate and transparent justice they deserve and need. The definition of justice will never change depending on the identity of the alleged perpetrator or victim. I will uphold one definition of justice for all."
