#187 How the Laquan McDonald video got released

Sometimes, opening information can help build a fancy new app. Other times, it can ignite an entire movement.

On October 20, 2014, Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times and killed by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Over a year later, a dashcam video of the shooting was released, sparking protests, the resignation of Chicago’s Police Chief, a federal investigation, and calls for the Mayor and State’s Attorney to resign.

Brandon Smith, the independent journalist whose successful lawsuit forced the release of the Laquan McDonald video, will talk about his efforts to get it released, the effect it has had in Chicago, and the importance of having citizens understand how to get information via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to keep our government accountable.