Thousands of peaceful protesters blocked major streets and shopping areas in downtown Chicago Wednesday calling for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. The protests erupted after Emanuel addressed the City Council and apologized for the 2014 death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald at the hands of a police officer. Even while the mayor called for "complete and total" reform in order to restore faith in the police force, shouts of "16 shots and a cover-up" and "shut it down" could be heard on the streets.
Protester: "Can I curse?" @Ryanyoungnews: No you're live on TV Protester: "The whole system is in shambles" https://t.co/fBdBpNinJi #Chicago
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) December 9, 2015
Protestors: "#Rahm, resign." #LaquanMcDonald #cpd #chicago pic.twitter.com/eHAnipf7Da
— Wendy Widom (@wendywidom) December 9, 2015
Hard to estimate how many are here: pic.twitter.com/TnduAOsswW
— Aldertrack (@Aldertrack) December 9, 2015
"We just witnessed the mayor basically put a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound," Bishop James Dukes told CBS.