Rahm chased away from Malcolm X College publicity stunt on January 7... Protesters plan to be at Rahm's home on January 9...
Although Chicago's Malcolm X College has been in Chicago for nearly a half century, Rahm Emanuel is trying to "rebrand" all of the City Colleges in his own versions of reality. On January 8, 2016, Rahm's publicity stunt at Malcolm X barred most Chicago citizens. Only "Invited Guests" and credentialed press were allowed in the college, despite the fact that it is a public institution. Although Rahm Emanuel was trying to re-emerge into his traditional "narrative arc," on January 7, 2016, his effort failed. Emanuel told the city's corporate media that he was going to Malcolm X College to announce that it was being re-birthed as a new kind of school (health sciences, etc) -- thanks to Rahm Emanuel's leadership of Chicago City Colleges. But when Rahm showed up, protesters were there. Although he tricked some people, he was chased down by protesters, and he had to leave abruptly in one of his black SUVs. The confrontation with one protester was caught on video. The URL for the video is: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160107/near-west-side/watch-protester-chases-down-rahm-screams-get-out-as-mayor-bolts-suv
The protester was chanting "Hey Hey! Ho Ho! Rahm Emanuel's got to go..." as Rahm ran to his car surrounded by his security and press people.
Emanuel has spent nearly a month avoiding public activities, the longest time since his inauguration as mayor in May 2011 that he has stopped trying to bend what his ilk calls the "narrative arc" about his regime. For more than four years, Chicago's mayor has staged regular, sometimes daily, publicity stunts, for selected media. Often the press releases announcing those are labeled "There will be NO media availability" (which means Rahm will pose for pictures but not answer questions).
tight security was in place for Rahm's attempted emergence on January 8. As DNA Info reports: "Security was tight at the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the new $251 million Malcolm X College on the Near West Side Thursday. Invited guests and media were met by security at the door, making sure guests were on a list and properly credentialed..."
Although Rahm Emanuel tried to create the media event and avoid any protesters, South Sider Jared Steverson (above) was able to catch Rahm outside and briefly chant "Hey Hey! Ho Ho! Rahm Emanuel's got to go!" Rahm's security blocked Steverson and quickly packed the mayor away in his black SUV. Photo by DNA info.Following the decision of the Chicago Teachers Union to demand the resignation of Rahm Emanuel, protests across Chicago will continue. On January 8, a group on the North side announced a "RAHM HOUSE SHUT DOWN" to be held on Saturday, January 9 at 5 PM at Rahm's home at 4226 N. hermitage in Chicago.
ACCORDING TO DNA INFO.
Protester Chases Down Rahm, Screams 'Get Out' as Mayor Bolts in SUV, By Stephanie Lulay | January 7, 2016, DNA Info Chicago...
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NEAR WEST SIDE � After staking out the location of the Mayor's "invited guests only" appearance Thursday [January 8, 2016], one protester was able to bring his message to Rahm in the flesh.
Captured on video, Washington Park resident Jared Steverson confronted Mayor Rahm Emanuel after his closed appearance at the new Malcolm X College Thursday. Before the Mayor, flanked by security, is quickly swooped up by a black SUV, Steverson says: "Get out of our city."
"This is our city. What else you covering up, Mayor?" Steverson yells at the SUV carting Emanuel.
In the back of the building, another eight protesters, including 16-year-old Lamon Reccord, were waiting in case Emanuel exited out the back. Reccord pulled up in a car minutes after the Mayor left.
Thursday's encounter comes after weeks of protesting over the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald, the 17-year-old teen whose death at the hands of police has galvanized protesters and brought national scrutiny to Emanuel and the Chicago Police Department.
The January 7, 2016 press release promoting the "rebranding" of Chicago's Malcolm X College indicates that Rahm Emanuel is beginning to try and return to his program establishing what political hacks call the "narrative arc" of the Rahm Emanuel story. Above, the press release issued jointly by Chicago City Colleges and the Mayor's Press Office at taxpayer expense focuses on Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel's attempt to hold a "by invitation only" propaganda event at the college was thwarted when protesters were able to catch up with the mayor despite tight security and the hypocritical support of Rahm's appointee, Cheryl Hyman (a former corporate executive, not an educator). Steverson, with a small group of protesters, staked out the college's main entrance at 8:45 a.m., nearly two hours before Emanuel arrived on scene, but they missed catching the Mayor before he entered the building. He must have entered through another entrance, Steverson surmised.
Security was tight at the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the new $251 million Malcolm X College on the Near West Side Thursday. Invited guests and media were met by security at the door, making sure guests were on a list and properly credentialed.
Only invited guests and media were permitted to enter the center of the new Malcolm X College building for a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. Guests were met by a security team at the city college's entrance. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
Invite or no invite, protesters promise to be "everywhere" the Mayor is, said Steverson, a 27-year-old working in the food service industry. Activist Ja'Mal Green, who posted the video of Steverson Thursday, has said the protests will continue daily until Emanuel and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez resign.
"We're going to be everywhere he's going to be," Steverson said. "It's sad that he thinks he can just stay out of the public eye. But we're everywhere.
Everywhere, including in the city's wealthiest neighborhoods, he said. It's all part of their plan to keep pressure on the Mayor.
"Eventually, the people that matter to the Mayor and going to say, 'You need to get out of office.'"
Since the Laquan McDonald video has been released, protests and demonstrations have been ongoing in Chicago. On Black Friday, hundreds marched down Michigan Avenue physically blocking shoppers from entering or leaving Magnificent Mile stores. On Dec. 9, hundreds of protesters gathered in Daley Plaza to demand Emanuel's resignation. On Dec. 29, protesters chanted outside of Emanuel's Ravenswood home.
Addressing reporters Thursday, Emanuel said protesters have not demonstrated near his home for five days.
Washington Park resident Jared Steverson talks to media after his brief encounter with Mayor Rahm Emanuel outside of Malcolm X College Thursday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
