In a protest President Obama called “peaceful,” “Black Lives Matter” activists fought back against police brutality Wednesday night by attacking a Christmas tree owned by the City of Chicago.
Chanting “This city sucks!” protesters ran up to the tree in Millennium Park and began ripping strings of lights off it.
Protesters pull lights down from Chicago Christmas treeProtesters yank the lights off of the City of Chicago Christmas tree in Millennium ParkVideo by WGN reporter Erik RungeLive blog with latest updates: http://via.wgntv.com/4srzt
Posted by WGN TV on Wednesday, November 25, 2015
.
Other footage, captured by Fox 32, showed the same incident with a protester yelling, “F*ck your Christmas tree!”
Protestors ripping lights off #Chicago holiday tree #LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/w76wG4o7jX
— Elizabeth Matthews (@ElizabethFox32) November 26, 2015
Protesters are in the streets over the death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was gunned down last year, but dashcam video was made public only this week. McDonald was shot 16 times, including multiple times while he lay motionless on the ground.
In addition to trying to destroy the Christmas tree, “Black Lives Matter” protesters also taunted police officers by getting in their faces and staring at them:
#LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/m3bL4pdQjQ
— Erik Runge (@WGNErik) November 25, 2015
A different angle shows the same protester daring the police officer to shoot him.
“You won’t do it,” he said repeatedly, before saying, “You won’t shoot me 16 times, will you? I want you to. Do it!”
Stand of between protestor and police. #LaquanMcDonald @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/Ls3X4fffkb
— Erik Runge (@WGNErik) November 25, 2015
Protesters took to the streets Tuesday night after the dashcam video was released. President Obama, of course, weighed in on the protests and dubbed them “peaceful,” writing on Facebook:
“Like many Americans, I was deeply disturbed by the footage of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. This Thanksgiving, I ask everybody to keep those who’ve suffered tragic loss in our thoughts and prayers, and to be thankful for the overwhelming majority of men and women in uniform who protect our communities with honor. And I’m personally grateful to the people of my hometown for keeping protests peaceful.”
Like many Americans, I was deeply disturbed by the footage of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. This…
Posted by President Obama on Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Leave a Comment
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.