People are taking to the streets of Chicago this evening to demand justice in the murder of Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old who was shot by Chicago police in Little Village on March 29.
A protest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Logan Square — the neighborhood where Mayor Lori Lightfoot lives. It’s being organized by demonstrators from GoodKids MadCity, Chicago Freedom School, Little Village Community Council, Little VIllage Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), Unete La Villita and other social justice groups.
Demonstrators are gathering in Logan Square Park at 3150 W. Logan Boulevard. The protest is happening a day after smaller groups of protesters held actions in Union Park and downtown Chicago.
On April 15, The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released body camera footage from the March 29 shooting. The video showed Toledo being chased down an alley by the shooter, CPD Officer Eric Stillman, until the 13-year-old reached a broken fence and the chase stopped. The officer yells “Show me your f*cking hands! Drop it!”
RELATED STORY
With Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago officials placing blame on everyone except police, how does Little Village heal after Adam Toledo’s shooting?
After the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, the Little Village neighborhood is left looking for answers and a path toward healing.
Police say the video shows Toledo holding a gun they recovered at the scene before dropping it behind the fence, but that part of the video is blurred and unclear. Toledo soon turns to face the officer, and puts his empty hands in the air, complying with the officer’s demands.
In less than a second, and before the officer finishes repeating “Drop it!” the officer fires a single fatal shot into Toledo’s chest, who is visibly unarmed with his hands up.
The video is gut-wrenching to watch, and clearly counters the initial claims made by a prosecutor from the State’s Attorney’s office that Toledo was holding a gun when the officer shot him.
RELATED STORY
The Revolutionary Column | I don’t need to see Adam Toledo’s murder video to know Chicago police be lying
Trying to wean the U.S. off its addiction to the punishment and enslavement of BIPOC peoples has actually been much too long a process.
Toledo’s murder immediately became national news following the release of the video on April 15. In Chicago, organizers are using the moment to demand justice for Toledo and his family.
Follow TRiiBE reporter @matthemajor on Twitter as he reports live from tonight’s demonstration.
