Clashes between police and protesters have led to a large number of allegations of police misconduct. The Chicago Reporter originally published this story.
After arresting hundreds of protesters over the weekend, Chicago police obstructed attorneys’ access to their clients in custody, lawyers and activists said.
The appeals court ruled that Jackie Wilson, who was convicted of the 1982 robbery and murder of two Chicago Police officers, was tortured into confessing and should received a new trial.
A judge’s order that the dashboard video of Chicago Police Department officer Jason Van Dyke shooting to death 17-year old Laquan McDonald has set off an avalanche of developments that continue to unfold. On Monday U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch announced the U.S. Department of Justice is opening a probe into the pattern and practices of the Chicago Police Department. That probe had been called for by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and supported by demonstrators and many politicians locally and nationally. At first Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed his own panel of Chicago lawyers, said he opposed the idea of a Justice Department investigation. Quickly he changed course and said he supported the investigation.
A thorough investigation of the shooting of Laquan McDonald, of course, is in order, as are investigations into every other recent and ensuing use of deadly force by Chicago police. Chicagoans deserve, and have every right to demand, honest answers — but the answers by themselves won’t change the status quo.
The belated charging Tuesday of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke with the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald more than 13 months ago ought to be viewed as an indictment of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez for dereliction of duty.