Verdict to be read at 1:45 PM today.
Following the verdict, the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression calls for an emergency mobilization at City Hall EXACTLY ONE HOUR AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT. (Pay close attention to this event page and our group https://m.facebook.com/groups/560179864437995). We have demanded justice, and if we don’t get it, SHUT IT DOWN!
And even if Van Dyke is found guilty, we will still rally and protest at City Hall to continue the fight for justice, and for an elected Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC).
The first degree murder trial of Jason Van Dyke is in its second week. This is the first time in Chicago history that an on-duty white police officer has been charged and indicted for first degree murder of a Black person, a point that the defense presents in its effort to delegitimize the case. The main strategy of the defense is to go all out to criminalize Laquan, in order to claim Van Dyke’s innocence by justifying the murder.
Because of the racist nature of this criminal justice system, we fear there is a chance that the trial may result in an acquittal. We know that this system does not want to convict Van Dyke. We know that the jury selection resulted in a lopsided jury with only one Black person in a city that is 1/3rd Black.
The case could very soon be in the hands of the jury. We know that people will want justice if denied it in court, and so we are calling for an emergency response plan.
If the verdict is Not Guilty, there will be a massive rising of anger across the city, but especially in the Black communities of the West and South Sides. If there’s a hung jury, there will also be anger at the denial of justice.
Even if there’s a Guilty verdict, there will still be justice to serve, because there are more and more young Black people being murdered by the police all across the country, and because it took four long years to put Van Dyke on trial.
Endorsed by
Black Lives Matter Chicago
United States Palestinian Community Network
Arab American Action Network
Take on Hate
Good kids Mad City
NWS Coalition Against Racism and Hate
Gay Liberation Network