CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Protestors gathered outside the Chicago Transit Authority's mass membership meeting Sunday morning, once again asking federal authorities to file federal charges against former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke over the 2014 shooting death of Chicago teenager Laquan McDonald.
They also wanted the CTA to grind to a halt if Van Dyke is released from prison this week as scheduled.
Community organizer William Calloway stood in the cold and spoke to reporters on the 1900 block of West Carroll, outside the Chicago Teachers Union headquarters where the CTA held its meeting.
"I'm here today to make another appeal to...Chicago Transit Authority workers. We need you,” Calloway said. "We want you to stand with us to halt services,to slow down services, to raise awareness to this injustice, this miscarriage of justice for the possible release of Jason Van Dyke."
Van Dyke is scheduled to be released Thursday and Calloway said the city will react quickly if the CTA listens to them.
"If the workers for Local 308 and 241 decide not to show up for work, the whole city shuts down. Not only would it have an effect on the city of Chicago, it would have a global effect on the economy,” He said.
WBBM Newsradio asked Calloway about the burden a halting of CTA service would put on so many people and he said, "...inconvenience is the price of freedom."
Calloway added any possible CTA stoppage would not last long once the point is made.
As far as such a job action actually happening, CTA union members are not focused on that right now as they are in contract talks with the city. They told WBBM Newsradio any work stoppage would have to go through union leadership and they are not talking about that right now.
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