Page 5 - ATD12DEC2015
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U.S. NEWS A5
Saturday 12 December 2015
Family of teen shot by Chicago cop joins calls for change
DON BABWIN Rev. Marvin Hunter, the great uncle of Laquan McDonald, center, accompanied by other family development and keep
Associated Press members and supporters, speaks at a news conference Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, in Chicago. such deaths from happen-
CHICAGO (AP) — The fam- ing.
ily of a black teenager shot (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford) Chicago officials fought
16 times by a white Chica- the release of the video,
go police officer on Friday largely out of the spotlight son.” that showed Eric Garner arguing it could interfere
joined the call for change since the video was re- Since the video’s release, being taken down by a with any resulting court
in local leadership and leased Nov. 24, but about McDonald’s death be- New York police officer in a case. Acting on a judge’s
policing in the city and a dozen of them stood came another example in fatal chokehold. order, the city released it
nationwide, weeks after a behind Hunter on Friday. the current debate over The city agreed to a $5 just hours after Alvarez an-
video of the 2014 killing set A few activists with them gun violence and treat- million settlement with nounced charges against
off days of protests. wore T-shirts that read ment of African-Americans McDonald’s family earlier the officer.
Laquan McDonald was “Rahm Failed Us.” by the police. Protesters this year without a lawsuit An attorney for McDon-
shot in October 2014 by One notable absence have turned the shoot- being filed. Hunter down- ald’s family said they, too,
police Officer Jason Van was McDonald’s mother, ing into a rallying cry, their played that Friday, say- did not want the video
Dyke, who is charged with whom Hunter said is “hurt- chants of “16 shots and a ing the money that really made public initially be-
first-degree murder. Squad- ing and traumatized by cover-up” becoming as fa- matters should come in cause they were still griev-
car footage was released the constant reminder of miliar as “I can’t breathe” the form of government re- ing.
late last month upon a the senseless death of her became after the video sources to foster economic Alvarez has defended the
judge’s order, and there delay in pressing charges
have been protests almost against Van Dyke, calling
daily since. Protesters al- it a complex investigation.
lege a cover-up and have Emanuel apologized this
called for the resignation week that the incident oc-
of Mayor Rahm Emanuel curred under him adminis-
and Cook County State’s tration. He fired the police
Attorney Anita Alvarez. chief and named a new
The Rev. Marvin Hunter, head of the police review
who is McDonald’s great agency that investigates
uncle, said a news con- police conduct. But pro-
ference Friday that “what tests have continued.
we’re feeling in Chicago is Earlier this week, U.S. Attor-
the real feeling of America ney General Loretta Lynch
itself, and that’s injustice announced the Depart-
against people of color.” ment of Justice would in-
He also said there are vestigate whether the Chi-
“thousands of Laquan Mc- cago Police Department’s
Donalds.” practices violate federal
The family has stayed and constitutional law.q
Homeland Security takes lead in search for Afghan trainees
JEFF MARTIN the U.S. State Department Karns said. Moody Air Force Base said building, but I don’t know
Associated Press in efforts to locate them, “Various terrorist organiza- in an August 2014 state- the details,” Galloway said
ATLANTA (AP) — The De- Air Force Lt. Col. Chris tions or groups or nefari- ment when the program Friday.
partment of Homeland Karns said. ous groups in their country was announced. It’s not the first time foreign
Security has taken a lead The men didn’t report would seek to inflict harm Few details of the search servicemen have left train-
role in the search for two Monday to maintenance on them,” he said. “They’re have been released, but ing programs at U.S. bases.
Afghan men who disap- training with the 81st Fight- in the U.S. because it’s authorities visited Valdo- On September 20, 2014,
peared while training with er Squadron, according a safer environment to sta Regional Airport after three Afghan army of-
the U.S. military at a base to officials at Moody Air conduct training and by the men turned up missing ficers disappeared from
in south Georgia, Air Force Force base. providing their name and and downloaded video a Massachusetts military
officials said Friday. The two had been at image it potentially intro- from its surveillance cam- base while participating
Air Force officials have Moody since February as duces unnecessary risk to eras, airport manager Jim in a training exercise. Two
said that the men were part of training aimed at them and their families.” Galloway said. The airport days later, they were de-
screened before entering improving the Afghani- The goal of the program is about 15 miles (25 kilo- tained by Canadian bor-
the U.S. and that there’s stan air force. The mili- is to train a total of 30 Af- meters) southwest of the der guards as they tried
no evidence they pose a tary hasn’t released their ghan pilots and 90 Afghan base. to enter Canada on the
threat. Homeland Secu- names as part of a policy maintenance personnel “What they were inter- Rainbow Bridge in Niagara
rity is coordinating with aimed at protecting them, during a four-year period, ested in was outside the Falls, Ontario.q
