Thousands of people gathered in the evening in Logan Square Park, Chicago, to demonstrate in memory of Adam Toledo, the 13-year-old Hispanic boy killed by a policeman on the night of March 29. The protest, promoted by numerous organizations, began around 5.30 pm. An hour and a half after a game a march. All roads in the area around Milwaukee Avenue have been closed. The goal was to go to the residence of the mayor of the city, Lori Lightfoot, who had invited Thursday, after the release of the video of the boy’s death, to demonstrate in peace, leaving an independent body to clarify.
The reaction of the people was expected because the images were taken from the body cam of the policeman, Eric Stillman, 34, looked shocking. The video denies the reconstruction of the agent who always claimed to have shot Adam because the boy had pointed the gun at him. A frame extrapolated from the images, and posted on the net, shows Adam with his hands raised, without a gun, just before being shot down by a gunshot, which was fatal. The recording documented the slow agony of the boy, lying on the ground, covered in blood, as two officers attempted a heart massage. Two meters away, a weapon was found, possibly belonging to Adam.
If he had it – the Toledo family lawyers argued – threw it away. He obeyed the policeman’s orders, showed his hands and turned around. The agent’s lawyers say Stillman had to act within seconds and was under threat. The policeman was placed on hold, pending the investigation to clarify the dynamics and responsibilities. But thousands of people are demanding justice, and a thorough reform of the police. United States Vice President Kamala Harris will lead a working group to push the reform forward.
April 17, 2021 (change April 17, 2021 | 03:29)
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