CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A rally Saturday about the fatal police shooting of Anthony Alvarez brought out critics — and supporters — of the Chicago Police Department.
Members of Alvarez’s family and others stood across the street from the Jefferson Park police station calling for charges against the officer who killed the 22-year-old in March.
Protesters pointed to an apparent road rage incident recently involving the same officer as proof of a pattern of bad behavior. Alvarez’s cousin Roxana Figueroa told the Chicago Sun-Times she’s shocked the department still has a person like that working with a badge and a gun.
In front of the station supporters of the police also held signs and waved flags.
The counter-protest was organized by three aldermen who included the 38th Ward’s Nick Sposato, who said it was to show officers that this world is not about protesters but “about our kind of people.” John Catanzara, president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, stood outside with the aldermen.
Organizer Shabbir Manjee, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said they’re not going to be silenced, and “we’re not going to be intimidated.”
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