Protesters target Chicago retail district
Some businesses lock their doors as more than 1,000 march against white officer’s killing of black teen.
— Marchers protesting the killing of black teenager Laquan McDonald by a white police officer took over North Michigan Avenue on Friday morning at the height of post-Thanksgiving shopping in Chicago’s most famous retail district. They blocked traffic and the entrances to many stores and caused other businesses to lock their doors in the biggest public display since the video of the incident was made public this week.
More than 1,000 people took part in the march, which saw some of the highest-profile protesters since the video was released Tuesday. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, former mayoral candidate and Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, and U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush and Danny Davis walked with the throng, which pushed off from just north of the Chicago River and parked itself in the street in front of Water Tower Place, which contains a shopping mall, about a mile north.
Police shut down northbound Michigan Avenue at the river and the protesters marched in the street, spilling onto the southbound side. Traffic also was eventually stopped in that direction north of the river.
The front end of the group arrived at Water Tower Place around 11:30 a.m., about 30 minutes after the march began. Once there, the protesters turned their attention to the stores, trying to bring commerce to a halt in the city’s commercial center.
“We want to show them how it’s done in Chicago,” one speaker shouted into a megaphone as the group stopped facing Water Tower Place. “Let them just feel the empty cash registers.”
Marchers tried to get into the mall as police held them back. Protesters also blocked the entrances to Victoria’s Secret, the Apple store, Neiman Marcus and more than a dozen other retailers while chanting “Sixteen shots and a coverup! Shut it down!” referring to the number of times McDonald was shot. Some stores along Michigan locked their doors as the march passed.
“People listen to economics,” protester Chris Lewis said as he blocked the door to the Ralph Lauren store.
The video has drawn nationwide attention to the 17-year-old’s October 2014 death, and the march along the Magnificent Mile on a cold, wet Friday morning is the most prominent demonstration by those critical of the incident and of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s response to it.
Marchers carried signs calling for justice for McDonald and for the creation of a community police accountability council. They chanted “Justice now” and “If we don’t get it, shut it down.”
Johnny Reed, a 24-yearold Chicago native now liv- ing in Washington, D.C., said he was back in town for the holidays and “supporting home.” He noted there was a lot of energy in the aftermath of the video’s release but wondered whether protesters would be able to maintain their momentum.
Carolyn Johnson, 53, of Englewood, said she came downtown to press for the firing of police Supt. Garry McCarthy and Cook County State’s Atty. Anita Alvarez because it took so long for charges to be brought against Officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot McDonald.
“This is what they need to do: Clear the air; make it clean. Don’t go halfway; go all the way,” Johnson said.
Dozens of Chicago police officers lined the marchers’ route in front of the high-end stores that North Michigan Avenue is known for. Shoppers laden with bags paused to take in the scene and to wait for a chance to cross Michigan Avenue as the crowd streamed past.
Protests in recent days have been mostly peaceful. Police made a handful of arrests during downtown marches south of the Chicago River after the release of the video.
Critics of the city’s handling of the investigation into the shooting have asked why it took Emanuel so long to release the video and why he only did so in response to a judge’s order that the mayor’s administration spent months fighting. And they have asked why Van Dyke continued to collect a paycheck for more than a year after he shot McDonald near 41st Street and Pulaski Road.
Van Dyke was charged this week with first-degree murder. The charges came just hours before the courtordered release of the dashboard-camera video that shows the officer shooting McDonald, who was holding a knife and had PCP in his system at the time of his death.
Protesters have called for McCarthy’s firing and for an independent prosecutor to look into Alvarez’s handling of the situation. Emanuel has said he will stand behind McCarthy.
Van Dyke, 37, is being held without bond pending a Monday hearing when a judge in the case will view the video. The officer is no longer being paid by the Chicago Police Department.