EDGEWATER — Edgewater Ald. Harry Osterman and his staff met Tuesday night with faith leaders and residents across the North Side to begin a discussion on race, police, youth and more so that "a tragedy like [Laquan McDonald] never occurs again."
Residents met at the lakefront Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road, where Senior Rabbi Michael R. Zedek led the group in an opening "reflection" from Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel.
In his reading, Zedek touched on what would become a central theme of the night: "Few are guilty, but all are responsible."
After a judge ordered the release of police dashcam video showing McDonald's shooting by Officer Jason Van Dyke last week, Osterman wrote a letter to 48th Ward residents that said he was "outraged" and "very disturbed" by the footage.
"Laquan McDonald did not deserve to have his young life taken violently by an individual sworn to serve and protect him. His death, and the failure of our system to react promptly, impacts our entire city," Osterman said in his letter. "It destroys trust between our residents and the police, and unfairly harms the reputation of many fine police officers who give so much to our community."
Those in attendance at Tuesday night's packed meeting shared similar sentiments, with many calling for the resignation of Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, other officers who were on the scene of the shooting, as well as anyone else who obstructed justice.
One resident called the killing "not just racist and brutal, but sadistic."
Osterman said as the video "ripped through our city," the issues of police brutality, systemic racism and the need for deep reforms at the city and police department levels could no longer be ignored. He said he no longer had confidence in Alvarez.
Many neighbors expressed emotions ranging from deep concern to anger, accusing Alvarez, Emanuel and McCarthy in covering-up the crime. Others recounted in disbelief watching as McDonald's lifeless body was riddled with bullets as other officers stood and watched.
Many also wanted answers.
"What can be done to address not just the killing and the racism, but our own government, our own city covering it up?" asked one resident who'd watched the video.
Another resident said city officials were "playing politics with peoples' lives."
Some residents spoke of their own experiences with police living on the city's Far North Side that grated against their trust of law enforcement.
One man who said his children were biracial spoke about the heartbreaking, tearful conversations he must have with his kids about fearing both gangs and police — adding that he wouldn't feel comfortable allowing them to drive his car around the neighborhood at night for fear of profiling, or worse.
Osterman himself recounted a time when a group of young black men, who were participants of a youth program at a local school, were hassled by police who "rolled up" to them as they were walking home on a Friday night.
"All this trust-building could be gone in a heartbeat" with just one negative interaction, he said.
Another man, Befekadu Retta, who has three sons of color, said his Thanksgiving holiday was a "depressing" one spent talking and crying "about people dying" while together at the table.
"What's going on? I have no answer for my children," Retta said. "We elected them and they betrayed us."
While many called for the resignation for those involved with the high-profile case, others said it would take more than just "firing people" for actual change to occur.
This woman, who said she grew up in North Lawndale before moving to Edgewater, came to the meeting on her 90th birthday to express her concern with city officials literally asleep on the job, at city hall. That's one way things slip through the cracks of justice, she said. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
Osterman, a member of the City Council and city's Finance Committee, which approved a $5 million settlement in the aftermath of the shooting with McDonald's family, said aldermen had not watched the video until it was publicly released, but acknowledged as a council member, "We didn't go far enough to investigate" the case as the family's settlement moved through the court system.
He said the video's existence was part of the testimony at the Finance Committee hearing where the settlement was approved, but he was not present at the hearing that day. Going forward, he said he and other council members will be taking a closer look at how the settlement unfolded.
Osterman also touched on a federal investigation currently underway into the McDonald case, adding that many alderman and committees would continue meeting in the meantime to form coalitions that call for major reforms at the city level, including himself.
"Lip service is not going to do anybody any good, I think what we're going to see is action" in the City Council, Osterman said.
Included in much-needed reforms, he said, was a "top-to-bottom" look into the police department, increased diversity in officer recruitment, updated police training and serious investigations into officer complaints — issues he said can be addressed when re-evaluating officer contracts next year.
While residents spoke of intense sadness, frustration, bewilderment and awe as to the city's handling of McDonald's case, and others, some also said they were hopeful.
Edgewater could be a "leader" to the rest of the city when it comes to improving trust in the community between all residents and mentoring youth, they said.
Restorative justice, they said, must become part of police training to emphasize "humanity, rather than reacting to evil."
In order to truly confront these problems head-on, residents said, it will take "patience and political courage" from elected officials.
"We need to do a lot of things to uplift people suffering ... not just to the people of wealth and privilege," said Richard Norman, former principal of Senn High School.
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