Update:
Rev. Jesse Jackson and other clergymen had their own rally down the street.
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at gathering in support of States Attorney Kim Foxx, under fire for Jussie Smollett case. pic.twitter.com/uIe5xYM9Nj
— Craig Dellimore (@CraigDellimore) April 1, 2019
The civil rights leader called the criticism of Foxx "unreasonable, unjustified and politically motivated."
Original Article: Community activists and the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police butted heads outside the office of Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx in downtown Chicago.
The union representing Chicago's finest is rallying after the state attorney's office dropped charges against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, who had been accused of staging a hate-crime against himself. However, they were met by The Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. They had scheduled a counter protest for 10:30 a.m. at the same location.
Smollett allegedly paid a pair of brothers who worked as extras on the set of "Empire" to stage a beating. Smollett had reported that two people wearing MAGA hats had beaten him in the streets of Chicago early in the morning in February. The two attackers reportedly told Smollett that "This is a MAGA country" while they beat him. The story, while at first taken as truth by several media outlets and public figures, was soon called into serious question.
Soon enough, Smollett was arrested for filing a false police report. However, just recently, all charges against Smollett were dropped, to the severe chagrin of the Chicago police department. Kevin Graham, the president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, told "America's Newsroom" that authorities believed that the case against Smollett was "solid" and that the case "should have stood trial."
The police protesters are demanding that Foxx resign immediately because of the way she handled the Smollett case. However, the counter protesters believe that their demand is more sinister.
"This is not just an attacked on Kim Foxx," said Ja'Mal Green, a community activist. "This is an attack on all black elected officials throughout the state. We know what this is really about, and we don't stand for it."
At Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Fox’s downtown offices supporters and those who oppose her are face to face. On one side “no justice, no peace” on the other “Foxx must go.” pic.twitter.com/lLLuQRL1H6
— Rachel Hinton (@rrhinton) April 1, 2019
This is an ongoing story and will be updated as it progresses.