Congressman García’s Statement on the Early Release of Laquan McDonald’s Killer

Congressman García's Statement on the Early Release of Laquan McDonald's Killer

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the early release of former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, convicted for killing Laquan McDonald:

"There can never be justice for Laquan McDonald, but Jason Van Dyke's early release negates even the small measure of accountability that his conviction provided.

"Jason Van Dyke shot Laquan McDonald 16 times and was convicted on 17 counts, once for each shot, and one for his murder. After serving just three years, he is being released early. Despite the severity of Van Dyke's crime, despite his excessive use of force—despite the life he took—he is set to walk out on parole.

"I am angered on behalf of all our Black and Latino communities, in Chicago and across the country, for this failure of accountability. And I am particularly dismayed that this murder, which authorities tried so hard to cover up, and which helped spark a national movement to demand police accountability, is ending with more of the same. A police officer goes free while a community continues to mourn the death of a young victim.

"Van Dyke's early release is a slap in the face to our communities, and today I join the call for the Department of Justice to consider bringing civil rights charges against Van Dyke. Laquan's life mattered. Black Lives Matter."

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