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Photographing Chicago’s Front Lines

Photographs of the South Side by Jon Lowenstein
A couple kiss in Hoard Park on Chicago's South Side on April 18, 2012.Jon Lowenstein—NOOR
Photographs of the South Side by Jon Lowenstein
Just minutes after a double shooting, a man lies in an alley in the Grand Crossing neighborhood on Chicago's South Side on April 18, 2012. Jon Lowenstein—NOOR
Hundreds of people protested the police killing of 17 year old Laquan McDonald at the hands of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. McDonald was shot sixteen times and the video was withheld from public view until a judge ordred it released. McDonald was holding a small knife but was shot repeatedly in the dashcam video. The family was paid 5 million dollars in a settlement with the City of Chicago, but yesterday officer Van Dyke was also charged with murder after a whistleblower brought the video to the attention of a local journalist who then sued the city to have it released. The City of Chicago's Police Department has a long and difficult history associated with police brutality reaching back decades. One of the main tactics on the day after Thanksgiving was to shut down the shops on the Magnificent Mile. For the majority of the day and into the night Black Lives Matter protestors and their allies physically blocked the doors to many of the shops on the Magnificent Mile which forced to significantly decreased sales and the early closing of certain stores.
On November 27, 2015, hundreds of people protest the police killing of 17 year old Laquan McDonald at the hands of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. Jon Lowenstein—NOOR
Chicago police officers line up and block protestors from going North during one of the many moments in the Laquan McDonald protests. Hundreds of people protested the police killing of 17 year old Laquan McDonald at the hands of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. McDonald was shot sixteen times and the video was withheld from public view until a judge ordred it released. McDonald was holding a small knife but was shot repeatedly in the dashcam video. The family was paid 5 million dollars in a settlement with the City of Chicago, but yesterday officer Van Dyke was also charged with murder after a whistleblower brought the video to the attention of a local journalist who then sued the city to have it released. The City of Chicago's Police Department has a long and difficult history associated with police brutality reaching back decades.
Chicago police officers block protestors during the Laquan McDonald protests on November 25, 2015. Jon Lowenstein—NOOR
Black Lives Matter protestors in front of the Chicago Board of Trade during the LaQuan McDonald protests. Hundreds of people continue to protest the ongoing aftermath of police killings of black men in the City of Chicago. The most recent video to be released was that of 25 year old Ronald Johnson. He was shot and killed by Chicago Police while resisting arrest and running away in 2014. Police and state prosecutors claim that the video shows a gun in Johnson's hand as he ran away and was shot in the back, but activists and family membesr dispute the fact. Charges will not be filed against the officer who killed Johnson. Additionally, 17 year old Laquan McDonald was shot and killed at the hands of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. McDonald was shot sixteen times and the video was withheld from public view until a judge ordered it released. McDonald was holding a small knife but was shot repeatedly in the dash cam video. The family was paid 5 million dollars in a settlement with the City of Chicago and recently officer Van Dyke was also charged with murder after a whistleblower brought the video to the attention of a local journalist who then sued the city to have it released. The City of Chicago's Police Department has a long and difficult history associated with police brutality reaching back decades. Protests continue to grow and have led to the resignation of police superintendent Garry McCarthy as well as calls for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Additionally, the Justice Department has opened an ongoing investigation of the Chicago Police Department's handling of these cases and their use of excessive force.
Black Lives Matter protestors appear in front of the Chicago Board of Trade during the Laquan McDonald protests on December 9, 2015. Jon Lowenstein—NOOR
A mid-day shooting at the corner of 79th and Exchange in the South Shore neighborhood. South Shore has traditionally been one of the most solid African-American neighborhoods on the South Side, but in the past generation it too has declined and now sees a disproportionately high rate of violence.
The aftermath of a mid-day shooting at the corner of 79th and Exchange in the South Shore neighborhood on September 3, 2014. Jon Lowenstein—NOOR
A young woman pays her respects at a makeshift memorial for Warren Robinson, aka Cutthroat Tunchie,  a young man who was killed by Chicago police on July 5, 2014. Police reported that the victim had a weapon and pointed it at them. Witnesses at the scene disputed the official story by the Chicago Police Department.
On July 5, 2014, a young woman pays her respects at a makeshift memorial for Warren Robinson, aka Cutthroat Tunchie, a young man who was killed by Chicago police.Jon Lowenstein—NOOR

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