Chicago Mayor Met With ’16 Shots!’ Chant During School Visit

By Kenrya Rankin Dec 17, 2015

It has been a tough few weeks for Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel. Following the release of the video of Chicago Police Department officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times, many in the city have been calling for him to resign his post. Yesterday (December 16), some students at Urban Prep Charter Academy made it clear how they felt about the mayor’s role in the crime’s aftermath.

CBS 2 Chicago reports that Emanuel was at the predominantly-Black school—which famously has a 100 percent college acceptance rate—to announce the creation of the My Brother’s Keeper Cabinet. Near the end of the program, students were told to stand and recite the Urban Prep creed. Several decided to instead chant “16 shots!” which has been a popular refrain among Chicago protestors. 

The mayor reportedly left abruptly following the assembly, and his office released the following statement:

The mayor recognizes that Chicagoans are understandably frustrated. He has called for systemic reform to bring safety to every community and rebuild trust where it has been lost. As part of that process he will continue to engage with residents, police and community leaders to address their specific concerns.