avatarJaron Mays

Summary

Jason Van Dyke, the former Chicago police officer convicted of murdering LaQuan McDonald, is set to be released early due to "good behavior," despite widespread outrage and calls for federal intervention, highlighting systemic racial injustice in the American legal system.

Abstract

Jason Van Dyke, who was sentenced to six years in prison for the murder of 17-year-old LaQuan McDonald, will be released after serving only three years, which is perceived as a lenient punishment for the killing of a Black teenager. The case, which involved a cover-up by city officials including then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has sparked public outcry and activism. The Rainbow Push Coalition and other activist groups are urging the federal government to take over the case to ensure proper justice is served. The early release of Van Dyke, who was held in protective custody due to threats related to his status as a former police officer, underscores the disparities in the U.S. justice system, particularly in cases involving police brutality against Black individuals. Some community members, like LaQuan's uncle Reverend Marvin Hunter, have called for forgiveness and a focus on systemic change rather than revenge, while others criticize this approach, advocating for harsher consequences for perpetrators of racial violence.

Opinions

  • The author expresses that Jason Van Dyke's early release is unjust and represents a "slap on the wrist" for the serious crime of murdering a Black teenager.
  • The article suggests that there is a systemic issue with white supremacy in the legal system, as evidenced by the leniency shown towards Van Dyke compared to harsher sentences for Black individuals for less severe crimes.
  • The author supports the activist groups' call for federal intervention, believing that Van Dyke should face further legal consequences for his actions.
  • There is a critique of the "turn the other cheek" mentality, particularly directed at Reverend Marvin Hunter, for advocating forgiveness over what the author believes should be a stronger pursuit of justice.
  • The author advocates for systemic change and accountability, emphasizing that the current justice system fails to adequately address the murder of Black individuals by police officers.

Ex-Chicago Police Officer Who Killed LaQuan McDonald Gets Away with Murder

Once again, America shows its ugly head by letting another race soldier off the hook for murdering a Black person

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his attorney Daniel Herbert listen during Van Dyke’s sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Jan. 18, 2019, in Chicago.Antonio | Perez / Chicago Tribune via AP file

So we have learned that Jason Van Dyke, the ex-Chicago police officer who was sentenced in 2018 for the murder of LaQuan McDonald in 2014, will be getting set free on February 3rd of this year. He is getting released early due to “good behavior.”

Now if you’ve been following the story, when Jason Van Dyke first got to prison, he was beaten up, they moved him a bunch of times, and then they put him in the low-level security prison where he’s been isolated due to a high threat upon him as an ex-police officer who was involved in the murder of a Black teenager.

He was originally sentenced to do six years or so, but as looks like he’s only going to have to do a little over three years — basically, a slap on the wrist. Because among a whole host of other things, he was found guilty of violating LaQuan’s civil rights and he also shot him in the back as he was running and there was just a major cover-up from the city of Chicago.

The mayor at the time, Rahm Emanuel, was complicit in the cover-up so it was this big giant mess. So again, Jason only got six years for that, which, unfortunately, he won’t have to do because he’s being released early. Once again, America rears its anti-Black racist ugly head by letting another race soldier murder a Black person with impunity.

Now there’s an activist group including the Rainbow Push Coalition is saying “Listen, people of Chicago, let’s go and shut down the transportation until the Feds pick this case up.” Because they want the feds to pick it up like the Ahmad Albury case so they can try him on a federal level which I believe they should too.

I stand by those protesters because what this suspect white supremacists race soldier did to that young man — he was only 17-years-old by the way — was so despicable, vile, and unnecessary he should be rotting in jail. But in the context of systematic white supremacy, he shouldn’t. But these white supremacists have no problem letting a Black man grow old and die in prison for selling a few grams of weed on the street corner. It’s just not right and something should be done about it.

Photo of Laquan McDonald

But you know what really grinds my gears — as Peter Griffin from Family Guy would say — is when you got negroes like Laquan’s uncle, Reverend Marvin Hunter stating this quote from the Chicago-Sun Times:

I’m hoping he’s learned the error of his ways. I have always asked for justice and not revenge. We got as much justice you could get with the players that were there at the time he was on trial. The system needs to be changed; it needs to be overhauled. — Reverend Martin Hunter

Once again, America rears its anti-Black racist ugly head by letting another race soldier murder a Black person with impunity.

This is that “turn the other cheek” type of ideology that negroes tend to do when suspected white supremacists hurt their relatives. Well, their relatives aren’t here anymore to agree with that. And what I would as Reverend Martin Hunter is this: In the Bible, didn’t Deuteronomy 32:35 say “Vengeance is mine and recompense.” So why are we speaking on getting vengeance, or rather justice, against these racist white folks?

This man murder your nephew for crying out loud, and you are already ready to start coonin’ up for some butter biscuits from these suspected white supremacists. Have some damn pride in yourself, and stop with all of this forgiveness talk when it comes to your people being murdered by these race soldiers.

Rest in Peace to Laquan McDonald and all of the other victims that have fallen to these race soldiers.

Jaron Mays. 2022. All Rights Reserved.

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Racism
BlackLivesMatter
Politics
Police Brutality
Death
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