CINCINNATI -- Dozens of protesters with Black Lives Matter Cincinnati rallied Friday night outside Cincinnati Police Department headquarters, showing solidarity for their counterparts in Chicago and Minneapolis where two black men have died at the hands of police.
Dashcam video released by court order earlier this week shows Laquan McDonald, 17, being shot 16 times by a white police officer in Chicago. McDonald was killed more than a year ago, and the officer, Jason Van Dyke, was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday, just hours before the video's release.
In Minneapolis, Jamar ONeal Clark, 24, died earlier this month after he was shot during an apparent scuffle with a police officer. Some community members have alleged that Clark was handcuffed when he was shot, which police have disputed. State and federal investigation are underway.
Protesters have rallied in both cities; in Chicago on Black Friday, protesters shut down four lanes of traffic in the city's ritziest shopping district.
In Cincinnati, Interim Police Chief Eliot Isaac met with protesters and answered questions.
"The only way that you can end this is to arrest, indict, fire and jail those who carry this out," Black Lives Matters Cincinnati's Brian Taylor told WCPO.
The protest and subsequent march to the Hamilton County Courthouse were peaceful; two people were cited when they stepped off a sidewalk, police said.
"Everybody has a right to protest, and we want to protect their rights as well as the general public," police spokesman Lt. Steve Saunders said.
Talis X drove from Dayton, Ohio for the protest, saying he'd just had an emotional meeting with Tamir Rice's mother. Rice was killed outside a Cleveland recreation center while carrying a pellet gun.
"As these holidays come by and these birthdays come by, it's not the same for them," Talis X said. "That was a life-changing event. So, you know, it really hurts, and you know, I fight for them."
Organizers say the movement has been gaining momentum, which they see as a long time coming.
"Yes, you were shocked by a 16-bullet execution that happened in Chicago, but some of us have been screaming this for a long time," Taylor said. "We're patient because we knew you were going to come along, but this isn't new."
