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Protesters demand recall law in demonstration commemorating Chicago police shooting

Xinhua, October 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

More than 500 people gathered outside the Chicago police headquarters Thursday to support a draft bill that would allow citizens to recall officials, in a demonstration commemorating the second anniversary of the police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times in Chicago two years ago. The police did not release video evidence of the shooting until more than a year later, shortly after state prosecutors charged Van Dyke with McDonald's murder.

William Calloway, activist and an organizer of the event, announced he helped draft the state bill called the Laquan McDonald Act which would amend current laws allowing citizens to recall the mayor, aldermen, and the Cook County state's attorney through a special election.

"Right now we have a system that allows people in power to do whatever they want and the community does not have a voice. This law will enable us to say we're not satisfied with what you're doing, and the community deserves better," Laquan Law supporter Sara Jones said.

Camiella Williams, an activist who worked to introduce legislation like the Laquan McDonald Act spoke to Xinhua about the significance. "You don't have to be politically savvy to introduce legislation, you just write something down, find an elected official, say 'let me introduce this' and that's what we did. Me and Will Calloway stayed up countless nights talking about this idea, I'm proud of him, I'm proud of his efforts, everybody's efforts, but we have a long way to go."

"Enough is enough, this has to end. Not only in Chicago, but across America. So many young people are being killed by the police and no one is talking about it. They think they deserve it," Camiella.

The bill has been filed with the Illinois General Assembly clerk, but has a long road ahead. No hearings have yet been scheduled on the bill with the committee, who must pass it before it goes to the larger chamber, then pass the Illinois Senate before reaching Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's desk. Endi