CIMC Alerts Blog

The Hyde Park Herald is reporting that embattled State's Attorney Anita Alvarez was forced off the University of Chicago campus by activists involved with the group FLY (Fearless Leading by the Youth).

Anita Alvarez got caught failing to prosecute the Laquan McDonald killing and still insists nothing went wrong with handling the case. Nevertheless, Alvarez -- who is facing a primary election in March 2016 -- is leading in current polling.

Chicago corporate media found that Chicago police video dash-cams were being sabotaged by Chicago police on a grand scale, including the video of the killing of Laquan McDonald. When asked to respond, Chicago FOP president foot the blame on the so-called "Ferguson Effect", where increased coverage has gotten in the way of police doing their jobs.

In the wake of two more unarmed black Chicagoans shot dead by police on the day after Christmas, organizers have announced a New Year's Eve protest against Rahm at City Hall.

Tuesday Dec. 15th: Sixteen activists block a downtown intersection, get arrested, amid calls for Rahm and Anita's resignation; Wednesday, Dec. 16th: At a high school rally attended by Rahm Emanuel, students start chanting "sixteen shots". Meanwhile, corporate media report that Rahm is planning to run for a third term as mayor. And on Friday Dec. 18th, another walk-out protest at Daley Plaza is being convened.

As widely expected, the Department of Justice is about to announce "a far-ranging investigation into the patterns and practices of the Chicago Police Department". Meanwhile, more protests over the Laquan McDonald case enveloped downtown Chicago, extending from City Hall to the Thompson Center. UPDATE: Corporate media are reporting that the head of the "Independent" Police Review Authority has resigned.

Meanwhile, here's something of interest to activists and protesters in the streets, though it may have not gotten a lot of play in recent days (because of protesters in the streets): An Illinois judge forced stringent new requirements on the cellphone-snooping cell tower simulators that are known as "stingrays".

Five were arrested amid the Laquan McDonald protests that swept downtown Chicago on November 24th. One of the arrestees, local poet and student Malcolm London faced dubious felony charges until activists rallied to his defense and got the charges dropped on the afternoon of November 25th.

A court has ordered the video of the police killing of Laquan McDonald released no later than November 25th. The Chicago corporate media has highlighted the possibility of significant anti-police-brutality protests swirling Chicago around the video's release. One youth group declined an offer to meet with the Mayor over the video release, saying that the call for calm doesn't also extend to the Chicago Police Department.