Clashes between police and demonstrators continue in Chicago

By Emiliana Molina

A Medill Newsmakers Report

The numbers of people killed by police each year are disproportionally Black and Latino. Eight people were killed by Chicago police officers in 2015 and seven of them were African American.

The pain, anger and fear felt every time there is a new name involved with police shootings incite anti-police terror demonstrators to continue fighting for justice. They walk around downtown Chicago chanting at police officers: “CPD, KKK how many kids have you killed today.”

Stop Mass Incarceration and Black Lives Matter are two of the organizations that help lead the demonstrations. Protesters believe public officials need to be held accountable and they won’t rest until they see justice for the victims and their families.

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Demonstrators had a victory on March 15 primaries. They voted Cook County State’s Attorney’s Anita Alvarez out of office. Voters showed up big on March 15 primaries to remove Alvarez from her seat after being heavily criticized on her handling of police shootings. Alvarez conceded the state’s attorney Democratic race to Kim Foxx early in the night.

One protester who is especially angry with police is the mother of Quintonio LeGrier. Her son called for help three times and it wasn’t until the third call that a dispatcher sent a police officer his way.

Photo at top: Police officers walk behind anti-police brutality demonstrators. (Emiliana Molina/Medill)