Month: December 2015

Justice Dept investigates Chicago Government: 16 Shots and a Coverup…

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Chicagoans Unite in Many Marches: “Which Side You On?” No Justice No Peace” – “16 Shots & a Coverup” Justice Dept investigates…

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  • December-Dateline: Chicago, USA.   Masses of people, many marches, meeting,  and street protests – chants with a determined united voice of Chicagoans – from elders to the very young- spanning race, color, creed, and all diversity of humans, continue hitting the streets in the days following the release of the Laquan McDonald murder dashcam video who was shot 16 times by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Daily there is one or more protests. From black Friday blocking stores on Michigan Ave, to blocking streets, to blocking – No “business as usual” for the City, The Government, the People – who are United – from all walks of life–to end the corruption. I was at the March on 12/9/15.-and the week before. I am a longtime Chicagoan as well..- it  was overwhelmingly powerful. Here is my indie view, documenting with more photos posted on Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/be_art_now/albums/72157661740716480

Pay tribute to an early visionary on the wake of it all..Video And Audiotapping police was illegal then—.Chris Drew, Street Artist, who sounded out the alarm early on in 2009 when he was arrested – for selling art for a $1, peddling, as an artist/activist  stating “Art IS Speech” 

but ended up fighting for Free Speech against charges of Class One Felony Eavesdropping – charges were changed by State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez- which carried-15 yrs in Prison.

His story now my indie film. He won!  History teaches. see it. on Amazon.com and also DVD at Revolution Books. Chicago.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016LFJHJM/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_qjniwb1YVH4DCied

——–Reference::-Excerpt from  The New York Times, Monica Davey. 12/5/15

“The hundreds of pages of documents add a new element to a case that has already upended this city, leading Mayor Rahm Emanuel to dismiss his police superintendent. Some officials, including Lisa Madigan, the state’s attorney general, have asked for a Justice Department review of the entire Police Department. While attention has largely been focused on Officer Van Dyke, the only officer to fire his gun at Mr. McDonald, the new records raise questions about the actions of other officers on the night of the shooting and about the culture within the department when it comes to policing one another.

On Saturday, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department noted that the case and any actions that may have followed the shooting remained part of a federal investigation, as well as a review by the Independent Police Review Authority, an agency that handles police shootings here.

“The Justice Department is currently investigating any actions and statements of C.P.D. officers in connection with this shooting“

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Clik here for MORE:

Posting with Video links

 

This is what Democracy Looks like..Power of the People United is Powerful.

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6th Anniversary of Chris Drew’s Arrest:”Art IS Speech”

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See film on Amazon.com !Film streaming and DVD Amazon.comNancy Bechtol Article ..more on LinkedIN post

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Chris Drew on Location selling art for $1

Shadow Bechtol Studio/Artist; Photographer/Media Specialist; APA Photojournalist

“You have the Right – Not to be Killed…or injured by Police or…”- Brief History–Shoot Video!

Nancy Bechtol, APA Photojournalist

 A time to remember that these issues have been happening in Chicago as well as many other places, for a long long time.  ..views …on much that was kept hidden.

Video/Photography shines the light as do Journalists

This is the 6th Anniversary of the arrest and subsequent 2.5 yr prosecuiton of Chicago artist & activist Chris Drew, by State’s Attorney, Anita Alvarez. VIDEO and Speech is our Right!

 

Also, see the big view…click on link blue below to see video:

Josh Wolf video. excerpt “Police Tapes” Rodney King to Chris Drew

This– above link– is a short film clip (from a longer movie) by Josh Wolf.  The Brief History of .. shows where it “started” with Rodney King to Chris Drew and More.. 

from Wikepedia:  “Josh Wolf[1] (born June 8, 1982) is an American freelance journalist and internet videoblogger[2] who was jailed by a Federal district court on August 1, 2006 for refusing to turn over a collection of videotapes he recorded during a July 2005 demonstration in San Francisco, California. Wolf served 226 days in prison at the Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin, California, longer than any other journalist in U.S. history has served for protecting source materials.[3]   In 2011, Wolf graduated from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and his thesis film “Police Tape” received the Reva and David Logan Prize for Excellence in Investigative Reporting”

brief: Chris Drew, on Dec 2, 2009 was arrested as he challenged the Peddler’s Licence with probono Attorney Mark Weinberg. as civil rights defense.  But..Peddling charges were dropped and replaced with a more serious Class One Felony under the Illinois Eavesdropping Law, for audio recording his own arrest.  Then, probono Attorney Josh Kutnick defended Chris and WON vs The Avarez. Witness “how it happened”  but think about how many more were unjustly held and even in prison, due to no representation.

 Chris, his life  story now told in indie film which is streaming on Amazon or in DVD format. Also now at Revolution Books, DVD. “Free Speech & the Transcendent Journey of Chris Drew, Street Artist” 

Indie Music courtesy of Hey Now Records, Behind the Sun, Andy Alton an… David Mansfield, “Paper Airplane”  SEE it! made in Chicago.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016LFJHJM/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_qjniwb1YVH4DC

Chicago and the world is stunned by the murder of Laquan McDonald shot 16 times by the Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Video recorded on dashcam video, (and the Burger King tapes which were erased) and possible eyewitnesses which may or may not appear.

Journalist who got the dashcam video released FOI

We are All connected.  peace through justice

 

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Chris Drew Wins!Revolution Books Chicago_ Posterfor DVDFIN_WB_NB.jpg

Critical Mass Ride for Chris Drew_photo by Nancy Bechtol-1915