Tag Archives: Laquan McDonald

Presidential Candidate Julian Castro Brings Up Tamir Rice and Eric Gardner in Democratic Debate

NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo hosted the first democratic debate with between ten of the candidates running for the top office of the nation, President of The United States. It aired on those channels, as well as livestreamed on NBCNews.com and on social media platforms. On this panel was New Jersey senator Cory Booker,  former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, San Antonio mayor Julian Castro; New York City mayor Bill de Blasio; Maryland politician John Delaney; Congressman Tulsi Gabbard, Washington governor Jay Inslee, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Ohio congressman Tim Ryan.

When the question was asked regarding an Economic Justice agenda needed for Latino voters to stand with the democratic party, Castro’s answered spoke most passionately with his political alignment with the Black Lives Matter movement, Black and Brown trauma and domestic terrorism perpetrated against Black and Brown people.

He said, “I also think we have to recognize racial and social justice. I was in Charleston not to long ago and I remember that Dylan Roof went to the Mother Emmanuel AME Church and he murdered nine people who were worshiping, and then he was apprehended by police without incident. But what about Eric Gardner and Tamir Rice and Laquan McDonald and Sandra Bland and Pamela Turner and Antonio Arce.  I am proud that I am the only candidate so far that has put forth legislation that will reform our policing system in America that will insure that no matter what the color of your skin is you are treated the same (including Latinos who are mistreated too often by police).”

 

This came right after, Mayor Bill DeBlasio invoke the image of him raising a Black son who has had his own issues with police based on race.

This is not the first time that the Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary has spoken out about this.  Last week at the South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn Fish Fry in Columbia, Castro noted when talking about the aforementioned 2015 church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina and how gently Roof was treated, “What about Eric Gardner? And what about Stephon Clark?” Listing other Black Americans killed by police. “We’re going to be fearless to make sure this country works for everyone.”

The next debate will be held on Thursday on the same networks and will feature 10 more Democratic candidates, including prominent figures Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

 

 

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Former Cop Jason Van Dyke Sentenced To Prison For The Killing Of Laquan McDonald

Late in the evening of October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was fatally shot by police officer Jason Van Dyke in Chicago, Illinois. According to reports, McDonald was seen behaving unpredictably while walking and reportedly carrying a knife. In the events that ensued, Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times, emptying the clip.

Early on, no charges were filed. Thirteen months after Laquan’s death, the Chicago Police Department released the officer’s dash cam video of the event after public demand, especially from activist William Calloway. The footage showed McDonald, knife in hand, walking in the opposite direction from the police, and in a non-threatening manner when he was shot to death. That same day, November 24, 2015, Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder.

Ice Cube Shows 3 Decades Of Police Brutality & It’s Not Just White Cops (Video)

Protests ensued and continued through March of 2016. Chance The Rapper mentioned McDonald’s killer on Saturday Night Live in late 2015. “I’ve been waiting all week. I’ve been waiting all night. Jason Van Dyke,” he sang. “Had to say something on Saturday; see you at church on Sunday.

Just under three years after McDonald’s death, the 40-year-old Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder on October 5, 2018. He was the first Chicago patrolman in 50 years to be found guilty of murder. On Friday (January 18), Van Dyke was then sentenced for six years, nine months. The former officer was also charged with 16 counts of aggravated battery, the same number of times he shot the teenager. “[Sentencing someone] is not pleasant, and this is not easy,” Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan said upon the order. “I assume that 100% of everybody is going to be disappointed.” Calloway, the activist who demanded the release of the dash cam footage, expressed his disapproval regarding the length of the sentence.

DJ Yella Says Police Violence Won’t Stop Until A Cop Goes To Jail For A Long Time

The sentence marks a rare occasion when an American police officer is sent to prison, especially for the killing of a Black civilian. Many other high-profile murders, including Michael Brown,  have ended without incarceration or penalty. In the trial, other state witnesses spoke about Van Dyke’s brutal police tactics in the past. There were six witnesses in total. Van Dyke’s wife claims she lost her job because of the events, and fears for her husband’s safety behind bars.

Laquan McDonald’s murder further brought to light the previously darkened, shadowed corners of Chicago’spolice force. As a result of Laquan’s case, three Chicago officers were charged with conspiracy to cover up Laquan’s death. The officers were later acquitted. However, this tragedy brought lasting change to the Windy City. The Times reports, “Protesters marched repeatedly in the weeks that followed, forcing out the Chicago police superintendent, successfully pushing for policy changes and weakening Mayor Rahm Emanuel, whose administration had fought to keep the video out of public view.”

Nas Throws His Hands Up In Solidarity With Those Unjustly Killed By Cops

Later, Laquan McDonald’s murder and the subsequent indictment of three Chicago police officers led to a more extensive investigation conducted by the United States Department of Justice against the Chicago Police Department. After it’s investigation was completed, The United States Department Of Justice determined that the Chicago Police Department regularly participated in, and aggravated, a culture of violence. According to its website, “The Justice Department announced today [Friday, January 13, 2017] that it has found reasonable cause to believe that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) engages in a pattern or practice of using force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. The department found that CPD officers’ practices unnecessarily endanger themselves and result in unnecessary and avoidable uses of force. The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies in training and accountability, including the failure to train officers in de-escalation and the failure to conduct meaningful investigations of uses of force.”

“Since the shooting, the department has launched new de-escalation training, made it policy to release nearly all video of police-involved shooting incidents within 60 to 90 days, and required all officers to wear body cameras,” according to USA Today. “The Illinois Attorney General’s Office sued the city in federal court in 2017 to implement a court-monitored consent decree aimed at ensuring reforms in the police department are carried out. State and city officials settled on parameters of the decree last year. It includes requirements that the police department publish use-of-force data monthly, tighten policy on the use of Tasers and document each time officers draw their weapons.”

Pusha-T’s Jarring Video Shows The Brutality & Force That Some Of Us Know Too Well

As for the sentencing of Jason Van Dyke after all these years, Pastor Marvin Hunter, McDonald’s great uncle, addressed the ruling by saying, “I want to say to everyone – everyone in the city of Chicago and across this country – that if they had sentenced him [Jason Van Dyke] to one minute [of prison time], it is a victory. It is a victory because what has happened in this courtroom today has never happened in the history of this county and it sets a precedent and it sends a strong message to unjust police officers that now you can and will go to jail if you’re caught lying, if you’re caught breaking the law.”

Late in the evening of October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was fatally shot by police officer Jason Van Dyke in Chicago, Illinois. According to reports, McDonald was seen behaving unpredictably while walking and reportedly carrying a knife. In the events that ensued, Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times, emptying the clip.

Early on, no charges were filed. Thirteen months after Laquan’s death, the Chicago Police Department released the officer’s dash cam video of the event after public demand, especially from activist William Calloway. The footage showed McDonald, knife in hand, walking in the opposite direction from the police, and in a non-threatening manner when he was shot to death. That same day, November 24, 2015, Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder.

Ice Cube Shows 3 Decades Of Police Brutality & It’s Not Just White Cops (Video)

Protests ensued and continued through March of 2016. Chance The Rapper mentioned McDonald’s killer on Saturday Night Live in late 2015. “I’ve been waiting all week. I’ve been waiting all night. Jason Van Dyke,” he sang. “Had to say something on Saturday; see you at church on Sunday.

Just under three years after McDonald’s death, the 40-year-old Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder on October 5, 2018. He was the first Chicago patrolman in 50 years to be found guilty of murder. On Friday (January 18), Van Dyke was then sentenced for six years, nine months. The former officer was also charged with 16 counts of aggravated battery, the same number of times he shot the teenager. “[Sentencing someone] is not pleasant, and this is not easy,” Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan said upon the order. “I assume that 100% of everybody is going to be disappointed.” Calloway, the activist who demanded the release of the dash cam footage, expressed his disapproval regarding the length of the sentence.

DJ Yella Says Police Violence Won’t Stop Until A Cop Goes To Jail For A Long Time

The sentence marks a rare occasion when an American police officer is sent to prison, especially for the killing of a Black civilian. Many other high-profile murders, including Michael Brown,  have ended without incarceration or penalty. In the trial, other state witnesses spoke about Van Dyke’s brutal police tactics in the past. There were six witnesses in total. Van Dyke’s wife claims she lost her job because of the events, and fears for her husband’s safety behind bars.

Laquan McDonald’s murder further brought to light the previously darkened, shadowed corners of Chicago’spolice force. As a result of Laquan’s case, three Chicago officers were charged with conspiracy to cover up Laquan’s death. The officers were later acquitted. However, this tragedy brought lasting change to the Windy City. The Times reports, “Protesters marched repeatedly in the weeks that followed, forcing out the Chicago police superintendent, successfully pushing for policy changes and weakening Mayor Rahm Emanuel, whose administration had fought to keep the video out of public view.”

Nas Throws His Hands Up In Solidarity With Those Unjustly Killed By Cops

Later, Laquan McDonald’s murder and the subsequent indictment of three Chicago police officers led to a more extensive investigation conducted by the United States Department of Justice against the Chicago Police Department. After it’s investigation was completed, The United States Department Of Justice determined that the Chicago Police Department regularly participated in, and aggravated, a culture of violence. According to its website, “The Justice Department announced today [Friday, January 13, 2017] that it has found reasonable cause to believe that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) engages in a pattern or practice of using force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. The department found that CPD officers’ practices unnecessarily endanger themselves and result in unnecessary and avoidable uses of force. The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies in training and accountability, including the failure to train officers in de-escalation and the failure to conduct meaningful investigations of uses of force.”

“Since the shooting, the department has launched new de-escalation training, made it policy to release nearly all video of police-involved shooting incidents within 60 to 90 days, and required all officers to wear body cameras,” according to USA Today. “The Illinois Attorney General’s Office sued the city in federal court in 2017 to implement a court-monitored consent decree aimed at ensuring reforms in the police department are carried out. State and city officials settled on parameters of the decree last year. It includes requirements that the police department publish use-of-force data monthly, tighten policy on the use of Tasers and document each time officers draw their weapons.”

Pusha-T’s Jarring Video Shows The Brutality & Force That Some Of Us Know Too Well

As for the sentencing of Jason Van Dyke after all these years, Pastor Marvin Hunter, McDonald’s great uncle, addressed the ruling by saying, “I want to say to everyone – everyone in the city of Chicago and across this country – that if they had sentenced him [Jason Van Dyke] to one minute [of prison time], it is a victory. It is a victory because what has happened in this courtroom today has never happened in the history of this county and it sets a precedent and it sends a strong message to unjust police officers that now you can and will go to jail if you’re caught lying, if you’re caught breaking the law.”

Source: AmbrosiaForHeads.com

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Jason Van Dyke Found Guilty Of Murder In Shooting Death Of LaQuan McDonald

US-CRIME-CHICAGO-POLICE-TRIAL-court

Source: ANTONIO PEREZ / Getty

Somewhat surprisingly, former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty for the death  LaQuan McDonald. The fact many people are shocked a cop was taken to task is a testament to the state of the justice system. 

Van Dyke, who is white, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of the Black 17-year-old in 2014.

Reports CNN:

Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Van Dyke, who was also found guilty of 16 counts of aggravated battery, sat impassively in a dark suit — his shoulders slumped — as the verdicts were read in the high-profile case. At one point, he sipped water from a bottle. He was found not guilty of official misconduct.
The officer’s wife sat stoically, arms folded, as the long verdict was delivered. His father lowered his head while some members of the McDonald family held hands.
Van Dyke’s bond was revoked and sentencing was scheduled for October 31. He was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

Van Dyke is reportedly the first Chicago police officer to be even charged with first-degree murder since 1980. Think about that.

The convicted murderer faces a minimum of 6 years in prison when he is sentenced.

Good riddance.

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Chicago Officer Jason Van Dyke Found Guilty in Murder of LaQuan McDonald


The Jason Van Dyke murder trial has concluded in Chicago and Van Dyke was found guilty on 16 charges of aggravated assault and one count of second-degree murder.

Jurors reached a verdict Friday afternoon declaring Van Dyke guilty of killing black teenager LaQuan McDonald. Van Dyke was originally charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

With the second-degree murder conviction, Van Dyke faces 15 years or more, but there is also an option for probation. The 16 counts of aggravated battery carry sentences of six to 30 years per charge.

Jason Van Dyke killed 17-year-old LaQuan McDonald on the 4100 blocks of South Pulaski Road in Chicago, Illinois on October 20, 2014. Van Dyke approached the teenager who was carrying a knife but walking away from surrounding officers. It was reported an inbound officer was 25 seconds away with a taser, instead of Van Dyke unloaded 16 shots into the black teen, some of which came after he already laid on the ground.

ABC 7 Chicago reports during the trial the judge requested that for the focus of the jury to be on the number of shots fired. Opposing arguments during the trial focused on excessive force and unreasonable cause for shooting, specifically Van Dyke’s statement that a knife was raised in his direction. The defense built their counterargument around the video not being enough evidence to accurately depict the scenario for Van Dyke.

The jury’s deliberation lasted Thursday evening and Friday morning for a total of seven hours. The jury had eight men and four women, of those, seven were white, three Hispanic, one Asian-American and one African-American.

In preparation for the verdict, Chicago authorities made sure the full police force would be available resulting in an additional 4,000 officers throughout the city.

Members of the Chicago community have reacted toward the news, which you can see along with media coverage from local outlets and journalists below.

The post Chicago Officer Jason Van Dyke Found Guilty in Murder of LaQuan McDonald appeared first on The Source.

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