On the evening of November 24, 2015, in Chicago, black youth-led organizers from BYP 100, We Charge Genocide, Fearlessly Leading the Youth, Assata’s Daughters and Black Lives Matter Chicago organized a protest in response to the video release of the murder of LaQuan McDonald. Vic Mensa and Ty Dolla $ign were among those supporting the efforts.

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As someone who regularly supports these organizations’ efforts at protests, I was not expecting last night to be a “walk in the park.” There are already articles circulating about Chicago being the next “Ferguson.” I presumed that there would be a strong presence from media as well as the police on all fronts due to the increasing tension in the city and the response on social media and elsewhere. Last night, my experience and that of other protesters was absolutely horrific and terrifying.

Additionally, three other organizers were arrested for misdemeanors: Page May, Johnae Strong, and Troy Alim.

Malcolm London, one of the leaders from BYP 100 was wrongfully arrested on trumped charges when we were demonstrating on Roosevelt and Michigan. Lauded as the Gil Scott-Heron of his generation by Cornel West, Malcolm London has impacted people well beyond Chicago with his poetry and work in activism. He, along with other young black organizers, declined to meet with Mayor Rahm Emanuel earlier this week ahead of the release of the video.

One of the protesters, Britteney Kapri, educator, playwright, poet and Chicagoan, details her perspective in an exclusive video of what happened when Malcolm London was arrested:

Protesters, including myself, took to social media to share eyewitness accounts of the behavior of the police last night and:

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Media outlets shared video as well:

The initial three organizers who were arrested were eventually released:

Local community organizers, activists and supporters around the country amplified the #FreeMalcolmLondon hashtag encouraging people to call and demand the release of Malcolm London:

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Local alderman Roderick Sawyer spoke out as well, asking for the release of Malcolm London:

BYP 100 members, and other local organizers and supporters gathered to provide community support at his bond hearing earlier this afternoon:

Charges against Malcolm London have since been dropped as of the afternoon on November 25, 2015.

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The others who were arrested, however, are still facing charges for misdemeanors and one is facing a felony charge as well as misdemeanors.

In the latest press release from Black Lives Matter Chicago, they included the following demands:

BLMChi continues to demand:
•The immediate discharge and pension revocation, and prosecution of Dante Servin, George Hernandez and Jason Van Dyke.
• The identification of Dakota Bright’s murderer.
• The immediate closing of Homan Square and all other unknown “black sites”.
• The upholding of our Constitutional right to peaceably assemble.

We Demand CPD immediately drop the charges of all arrested.

#LaquanMcDonald #16at17 #StopTheCops #FundBlackFutures

For information on how to donate to bail support, Black Lives Matter or BYP 100, follow this link to Black Lives Matter Chicago’s press release here.

#LaquanMcDonaldBYP 100ChicagoLaquan-McDonaldmalcolm londonProtest