African American

JustAnotherGen

(33,785 posts) Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:27 AM Oct 2018

Laquan McDonald's Murderer convicted

I've been really wrapped up in a local election so I've not been around as much.

Friday was a rough day for those of us who prioritize personal safety. However, through the outrage at Dr. Ford's treatment by the Senate, a jury in Illinois got it right for one American.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/laquan-mcdonalds-death-almost-didnt-come-light/572476/

I was completing a decade-long study of the criminal court system in Chicago when I saw the autopsy diagram of Laquan McDonald. The Cook County medical examiner meticulously inventoried how all 16 bullets fired by a Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke, had entered and exited McDonald’s body on October 20, 2014. The Chicago Police Department’s official account of the incident claimed that McDonald had a knife and lunged at Van Dyke. Other officers were willing to vouch for that description—but the dashcam video showed otherwise. It took 13 months and a court order to expose the truth: McDonald was walking away from Van Dyke, and Van Dyke killed McDonald without provocation. In the video, you can see McDonald’s body smoking.

Sometimes you have to take a lot of hits to get a win.

This gives me hope.

4 replies

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Laquan McDonald's Murderer convicted (Original Post) JustAnotherGen Oct 2018 OP

This verdict gives me hope that we may be seeing a change. yardwork Oct 2018 #1

What about the other cops who lied that McDonald had a knife? 3Hotdogs Oct 2018 #2

We're lucky they convicted the guy who reloaded while Loquan was on the ground ... marble falls Oct 2018 #3

The other officers backed him up. As usual. That's what we're up against. Nitram Oct 2018 #4

yardwork

(64,708 posts)

1. This verdict gives me hope that we may be seeing a change.

Reply to JustAnotherGen (Original post)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:50 AM

Oct 2018

The introduction of cameras on police has given the general public a window into things that used to be opaque. Attitudes and beliefs may be changing. People, like those on this jury, are beginning to see unjustified police killings for what they are.

If the public's attitude changes, then changes in police behavior may begin.

3Hotdogs

(13,541 posts)

2. What about the other cops who lied that McDonald had a knife?

Reply to JustAnotherGen (Original post)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 07:05 AM

Oct 2018

marble falls

(62,477 posts)

3. We're lucky they convicted the guy who reloaded while Loquan was on the ground ...

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Reply #2)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:18 AM

Oct 2018

bleeding out his last moments and fired repeatedly again.

But you are right. Its not just the main actors who need to go to prison (and the guilty officer hasn't been sentenced yet so who knows) its the Blue Curtain who hide these crimes by lies and hidden or manufactured evidence.

Nitram

(24,717 posts)

4. The other officers backed him up. As usual. That's what we're up against.

Reply to JustAnotherGen (Original post)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:53 AM

Oct 2018

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