Chicago's Magnificent Mile and the Black Friday cash registers of its high-end stores were brought to a standstill Nov. 27 by nearly 2,000 protesters who covered the breadth of Michigan Avenue, pausing at each intersection to give voice to each of the 16 gunshots discharged by Chicago Police Department officer Jason Van Dyke into the body of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald over a year ago.
Released on Nov. 24 to coincide with State's Attorney Anita Alvarez filing murder charges against Van Dyke, the video of the shooting was an eerily silent backdrop to the anguish and rage of the demonstrators whose voices reverberated from The Wrigley Building to Water Tower Place calling for justice and the removal of Alvarez, CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The harsh wind and constant stream of rain did little to deter what was called "an economic blockade" as people of all races and ages gathered to join the Chicago Teachers Union and Rev. Jesse Jackson at The Wrigley Building.
Jackson began by drilling the protesters in each of their demands. "We want a new police chief and infrastructure, a new State's Attorney," he said. "We want an independent prosecutor, federal intervention and oversight. End the cover-up. We want transparency. We will march on Michigan Avenue again, again and again until something happens. This year we will not shop until we drop. We will drop before we shop. Let justice be done."
As a line formed and started walking north on one side of the Magnificent Mile, they were joined by protesters who had already begun from Wacker & Michigan and Trump Tower—until the entire street was covered by a tide of determined voices sometimes in disparate calls to "stop shooting our future," and for "justice now" but always unified as the marchers paused to count from one to 16.
For the most part, the lines of CPD officers on bikes and on foot had a lower profile than photographers representing media outlets from across the world—some of whom showed more antagonism than the marchers themselves after they were kept from approaching Jackson, who was walking in linked arms with children.
However, by the time Jackson reached the steps of the Water Tower, some division in the aim of the march became apparent. As he took the microphone, he was drowned out by demonstrators on a bullhorn who yelled "indict Rahm"—something for which Jackson seemed reluctant to demand.
As Jackson left, the protesters formed blockades in front of stores including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Top Shop and Apple, stopping Black Friday shoppers from entering or leaving.
"We're going to speak some truth today," protesters cried. "This city's police department has a profound history of corruption. How many videos is it going to take?"
They pledged to continue economic disruption for the next 30 days.
The Friday protest was among several protests timed for Thanksgiving weekend. Black Youth Project 100 ( BYP100 ) has called for and been part of several of these protests.
Related coverage at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Organizations-respond-to-McDonald-video/53531.html .
