(WBBM NEWSADIO) — Dozens of activists demonstrated outside Chicago’s federal courthouse Thursday hours after former police officer Jason Van Dyke was released from prison for the killing of Black teen Laquan McDonald.
The demonstrators gathered as representatives sought to deliver a letter to the U.S. attorney’s office urging federal authorities to restart a civil-rights investigation into McDonald’s 2014 death.
Van Dyke, who fired 16 rounds into the 17-year-old, was convicted in 2018 of second-degree murder and aggravated battery and sentenced to 81 months in state prison. With time off for good behavior, he served about half of that amount.
Pressure has been mounting for the feds to further penalize Van Dyke. The U.S. Attorney’s Office previously began some type of investigation, but activists say no findings were publicly released.
Among the demonstrators Thursday were St. Sabina Pastor Michael Pfleger and the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who said Van Dyke did not receive adequate punishment.
The protesters later began marching on Dearborn Street, WBBM Newsradio’s Jim Gudas reports, with some of them yelling “(Expletive) the police!” at officers who monitored the events.
The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune reported some demonstrators were arrested for violating demonstrating rules at the federal property.
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