On Tuesday (Nov. 24) night, the streets of Chicago erupted with protest following the release of a video showing police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting and killing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Rapper Vic Mensa was among those who joined the protestors in his hometown.
Van Dyke was charged Tuesday for first degree murder and is being held without bond. McDonald was killed in October of 2014 after he was shot 16 times.
Mensa appeared in a video shared on social media saying, “We out in downtown Chicago right now. I just got hands put on me by police. We want justice for Laquan and we want justice for our people.”
Vic Mensa showed up in Chicago to protest the death of LaQuan McDonald who died at the hand of police pic.twitter.com/pRBp3npSZl
— DJ Akademiks (@IamAkademiks) November 25, 2015
CBS News also released a video, which appears to show the incident Mensa referred to as police and protesters exchanged shoves. Fellow Chi-Town rhymer Chance the Rapper tweeted his support saying that he would be back to Chicago in two days. Earlier this month, he was appointed as Chicagoan of the Year.
Be strong Chicago — Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) November 25, 2015
As noted by CNN, the city prepared for protests in advance of the video's release more than a year after the fatal incident. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel called for peace in the city.
"I believe this is a moment that can build bridges of understanding rather than become a barrier of misunderstanding. I understand that the people will be upset and will want to protest when they see this video," Emanuel said. "We as a city must rise to this moment."
Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy shared different sentiments, recognizing that residents “have a right to be angry.”
Soon after the video's release, a group of protesters began marching, chanting "16 shots" and "We got to fight back!"
Veteran director Spike Lee’s film Chi-Raq, which centers on gun violence in Chicago, is set to hit theaters on Dec. 4.
