Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Chicago, yesterday, Christmas eve, to march en-mass against police violence against black people.
As the level of police brutality against black men have been on the increase, protesters marched on Thursday along Chicago's Michigan Avenue, aiming to disrupt Christmas Eve shopping in the upscale commercial area of Chicago.The protesters also called for the resignation of Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel.
Demonstrators are reported to have chanted "Sixteen shots and a cover-up," during the march, protesting the year-long delay in bringing justice over murder charges against police officer, Jason Van Dyke, who reportedly shot and killed, Laquan McDonald in October 2014.
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The black teenager had reportedly walked away from police officer Dyke, going by the footage of the incident, before he was shot and killed.
Even though the demonstration peaceful, police struggled with a few of the protesters who were trying to block the entrance to an H&M store and to obstruct traffic both ways on Michigan Avenue, a major thoroughfare, by lying on the road, after the main march was concluded.
Barbara Hutchinson, 64, from St. Louis, while being interviewed, had this to say:
"I think it's a good reminder, especially on Christmas Eve, that it's not all about gifts and the commercialization of Christmas."
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Shoppers and tourists are reported to have taken it all in stride as the protest, was little compared to the 2,000-person march which took place on "Black Friday" November 27, which had reportedly blocked traffic into several Michigan Avenue stores.
