BRONZEVILLE — An activist tried to "shut down" Chicago Police Headquarters by chaining its doors shut after a vigil for Laquan McDonald on Monday night.
Religious leaders had gathered outside Police Headquarters for a prayer vigil for McDonald, who was shot 16 times and killed by an officer. The officer now faces murder charges. The release of a video of McDonald's death has led to protests throughout the city, though the prayer vigil was focused on reaching out to God and calling for a federal probe.
After the vigil had ended, activist Jedediah Brown, of the Young Leaders Alliance, walked up to a set of doors at the front of Police Headquarters and attempted to wrap chains around the handles. An officer stopped Brown and spoke to him while police circled the doors. A pastor who helped organize the vigil said Brown's actions were not a part of the vigil.
#LaquanMcDonald activist tries to chain doors of CPD headquarters, police stop him. @DNAinfoCHI pic.twitter.com/h6lWaUpE84
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) December 1, 2015
Brown, who eventually removed his chains and walked away, said he was making a "citizen's arrest" of the Chicago Police Department.
"That building is filled with corruption, as well as every officer that stood by and is standing by ... while a man is killed, a black, unarmed teenager," Brown told DNAinfo Chicago. "They are accomplices to murder."
Brown said the officer who stopped him from chaining the doors asked Brown "to respect [his] ability to have a conversation with a police officer." But, Brown said he did not want to have a conversation with police anymore.
"I spend most of my time trying to mend the relationship between community and police," Brown said, referencing his work with the Young Leaders Alliance. "But, I don't know, this is the ultimate breach of trust."
Brown said Chicago must get rid of Police Supt. Garry McCarthy and State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to rebuild trust with its residents of color. It must also invest in communities that have been hurt by blight, Brown said.
Brown, who was not detained by police, said he plans to speak to his lawyer and return.
Videos of the incident:
#LaquanMcDonald activist tries to chain doors of CPD headquarters, police stop him. @DNAinfoCHI pic.twitter.com/h6lWaUpE84
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) December 1, 2015
An officer just let the man chain the doors, it looked like. They pushed me back. #LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/EWZ1STqTZv
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) December 1, 2015
Activist walked away with chains. No one detained that I saw. He said he'll shut down the building. #LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/eHqdukQrFl
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) December 1, 2015
Here's the activist with the chains. pic.twitter.com/YdOcLYaJFX
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) December 1, 2015
Spoke to activist with chains, he told me officer asked him to respect his ability to have a dialogue with police, hence no chaining.
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) December 1, 2015
Pastors Unite
That incident came after several pastors called for a federal investigation of how the police and Cook County State's Attorney conduct their investigation of the shooting.
One pastor prayed for "... a federal investigation, a federal probe, that if there's anything that's been done in darkness ... it will come to light."
The pastors said they also want the Police Department to "work proactively with community and faith leaders to ensure" justice is fairly administered and want religious leaders to be greater advocates for justice, according to a news release.
The pastors, who took turns leading prayers with the crowd, addressed different issues: Some criticized Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy and State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, while another called for Chicago's elders to support Millennials who, she said, have led the charge in anti-violence activism. Another pastor, who is white, asked God for forgiveness for white people, citing a history of racism and devaluation of the lives of people of color.
The vigil featured moments of passion, with attendees clasping hands, hugging each other and saying, "I've got your back." They vowed to unify to fight violence, and the organizers encouraged attendees to enact change through voting. There were also people on hand to help register voters.
"When we reach the polls, if you don't like somebody you don't want in office, we've got to vote about it," one pastor said. "Because all of this, come March, means nothing if we don't march to the polls."
The crowd joined in on the pastor's chant: "We've got to vote. We've got vote."
Afterward, as the vigil winded down, the pastors reiterated their call for an investigation into the death of McDonald and told attendees to unite.
"I charge you to lead this place, continuing to do battle with evil," one pastor told the crowd.
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