Laquan McDonald: Protester gives inspiring response when asked about black-on-black violence

“It becomes a problem when you can’t even call 911 and feel like you’re safe”

Protester Brendan Glover was asked by Fox News about black on black violence while protesting the death of 17-year old Laquan McDonald in Chicago (YouTube)

A man protesting the shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald by a white police officer has managed to capture in just a few sentences the very essence of what people are angry about.

In a startling response to a reporter's question about black-on-black crime, Brendan Glover admitted that he "doesn't feel safe around the police".

The exchange between Mr Glover and Fox News reporter Mike Tobin was captured by the network in an effort to understand why protesters had taken to the streets of Chicago.

Fox News reporter Sean Hannity was in the studio in New York, and told Mr Tobin to ask Mr Glover about black-on-black crime.

He said: “There have been 818 murders in Chicago from 2014 through November 2015. We’ve had 4,224 people shot, shooting incidents in Chicago, in that timeframe. Ask him if he can name one person who was shot or one person who was killed?”

The question was relayed to Mr Glover, with Mr Tobin adding: “Gang violence, black-on-black violence, other than Tyshawn Lee (9-year old boy killed on November 2 in Chicago), can you name anyone?”

Mr Glover responded: “I go basically by what I see on the news. This situation strikes home to me with Laquan because that could have been me, my little brother, one of my friends. And the fact that we don’t feel safe with the police around – they’re here to serve and protect. The fact that I don’t feel safe around police is disturbing.”

He was then asked why there seems to be no outrage when black-on-black crime occurs.

“Because crime is going to happen wherever you go,” Mr Glover said. “Crime happens. And the people who are here to serve and protect are part of the problem. So it becomes a problem when you can’t even call 911 and feel like you’re safe, to protect you from people who are committing the crimes. That’s the point I’m trying to make.”

Laquan McDonald, 17, was shot 16 times by police officer Jason Van Dyke in October 2014.

Police dash-cam footage of the incident was released on Tuesday evening.

The graphic video, which has no audio, shows the teenager walking in the middle of the street, carrying a small knife, when he is shot and falls to the ground. Puffs of smoke are emitted from the officer’s weapon and Mr McDonald’s body can be seen moving with the impact of additional gunfire while on the ground.

Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday and remanded into custody.

Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest, chanting "16 shots" and "mic check", referring to the lack of sound in the video. Protesters were angered bythe fact it took more than a year to charge Van Dyke.