Source: Daily News
Amid loud calls for his resignation, Chicago’s mayor apologized Wednesday for his role in the Laquan McDonald shooting fallout that has shaken the city.
“I own it,” said embattled Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a speech to the City Council that did little to quell the uproar.
His morning mea culpa was followed by thousands of protesters leaving school and work. They filled the streets of downtown Chicago and flooded city buildings holding signs that read “Resign Rahm!” and “Rahm has got to go!”
In his apology, the mayor said he accepted responsibility because the shooting happened on “my watch.”
“But if we’re also going to begin the healing process, the first step in that journey is my step,” he said. “ And I’m sorry.”
Emanuel has been under fire for the city’s decision to keep an incriminating dashcam video under wraps for more than a year. The jarring video shows Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old McDonald 16 times on Oct. 20, 2014.
The grisly video of the shooting death wasn’t released until after murder charges were brought against Van Dyke, and local activists pressured police. Emanuel has maintained that he did not see the disturbing video until after it’s release.
“Every day we held on to the video contributed to the public’s distrust and that needs to change,” Emanuel said Wednesday in front of the City Council. A week ago, he asked for the resignation of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.
After the department finally shared the footage, Chicago police released two more damaging videos of separate incidents that took place more than a year ago and led to deaths.
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