More than 20 people were arrested in New York City and Chicago as protesters blocked roadways and broke other laws to call attention to the death of a man who was killed by a police officer last year.
In the Windy City, participants laid in the street Tuesday night, blocking traffic. Organizers with the Chicago Light Brigade told sources the 16 people who took part in the protest represented the number of times Laquan McDonald was shot last October by police officer Michael Van Dyke.
Activists blocking intersection as part of a police protest #memorialblockade #RahmResign pic.twitter.com/urPaEHzzHp
— Progress Illinois (@progressIL) December 16, 2015
On Monday night, five people were also arrested after staging a protest at the base of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The suspects were charged with obstruction of government administration.
Both events stemmed from a Chicago judge’s Nov. 24 order to release dash cam footage of the police officer shooting the black teenager. Since the release of that video, Windy City residents have staged peaceful protests throughout the city, even after Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy resigned.
Protesters have continued to call for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to step down for the role his administration allegedly played in delaying the charges on the officer.
