A Democratic state representative introduced a bill to the Illinois state legislature Wednesday. If enacted, it would give lawmakers a mechanism to drive Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel from office.
The bill, authored by Rep. LaShawn Ford and co-sponsored by fellow Democrat Mary Flowers, would amend a 1941 law to create “a procedure for an election to recall the Mayor of Chicago” where there currently is no legal means to do so, according to MSNBC.
Emanuel, who won re-election in an April run-off, has been under fire for allegedly mishandling how city hall and Chicago police reacted to the October 2014 death of a black teenager after he was shot by a cop 16 times.
Protesters say they are angry the city did not bring charges against the officer involved in the shooting until 13 months after the incident, when a judge ruled that a dash cam video of the shooting must be made public.
For two weeks, protesters have taken to the streets on Michigan Avenue, demanding the mayor resign for covering up a scandal by city employees.
Emanuel gave a speech Wednesday outlining three areas the city will work to improve relations between police and the public, but he did not mention whether he was considering resigning.
“I take responsibility for what happened because it happened on my watch. And if we’re going to fix it, I want you to understand it’s my responsibility with you,” the mayor said.
The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday it will open a federal investigation into the city’s police department, which is controlled by the embattled mayor.
