Police-related shootings in Chicago are at an all-time high and just recently, the second year from when teenager Laquan McDonald was marked. As of late, reenagers and police officials have met in an attempt to fix and restore the trust between the citizens and the police force.
ABC 7 reported that the meeting of the teens and the officers comes after McDonald was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer two years ago. A video showing the shooting was released and many have called for changes in the Chicago Police Department. Both the city and the department have made changes but the young people of color, who are most often than not the subject of police-related shootings, believe that there should be more changes made specifically at the South and West sides of Chicago.
The meeting between the officials and the teens took place in North Lawndale. Officer Sharon Godbold said in a statement that there should really be a change because the teens are not the only ones suffering from the shootings but everyone in Chicago. Another officer, Anthoney Richardson, added that he grew up on the West Side of Chicago and he knows what it feels like to be pulled over by police officials.
The teenagers who attended the meeting are said to be from Collins Academy High School. One student said that the police officials are a little too aggressive. She corrected that not all the officials are aggressive but most of the cops she came into contact with are a little too forceful.
Another student said that there have been no changes since the video of the shooting of McDonald was released, Chicago Tribune reported. He noted that he does not trust the police force while one more student recounted that police officials sometimes drive past by them and say insulting words. He added that sometimes they get pulled over for no reason.
The students were willing to participate at the meeting, wherein they placed some games with the officers, because they wanted to know the cops that they are trying to make good choices and are planning for their futures. They also want officials to know that they are educated and go to school every day.
Meanwhile, McDonald was shot 16 times despite walking away from the officials. The officer who shot him, Jason Van Dyke, is now facing murder charges.
