Rev. Jesse Jackson Demands Resignation of Chicago Officials in Light of Laquan McDonald Video

Rev. Jesse Jackson, along with other Black Lives Matter activists, are calling for the resignation of Chicago’s police superintendent along with a top city prosecutor following recent developments in the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald.

According to Reuters, Jackson issued the call over the weekend at a news conference. He criticized police superintendent Garry McCarthy along with state’s attorney Anita Alvarez for taking more than a year to file charges against Officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot McDonald 16 times last October. Additionally, Jackson is demanding that federal investigators launch an independent probe and that a special prosecutor be tapped to try Van Dyke.

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“We need bold comprehensive change in the police department and the criminal justice system,” Jackson said at a news conference. “Too much time for too little crime.”

Van Dyke claims he shot the 17-year-old because he feared for his life after seeing that McDonald reportedly had a knife. Dash cam video, which was released last week, shows McDonald walking away from officers when Van Dyke opened fire, striking him 16 times as he lie motionless on the ground.

Last week, Alvarez charged Van Dyke with McDonald’s murder. 

Since the murder charge was announced and the video was released, numerous peaceful protests and demonstrations have erupted throughout Chicago.