McDonald’s great-uncle: Family not offended by campaign ad

In response to criticism of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s mayoral campaign over an ad focused on the Laquan McDonald shooting, McDonald’s great-uncle said Friday that the family of the slain teenager was not offended by the commercial.

During a news conference at Grace Memorial Baptist Church on the West Side, the Rev. Marvin Hunter said he did not know Preckwinkle had taken action to release to the media the autopsy results on McDonald, who was shot 16 times by a police officer in 2014. But Hunter said it was “good to learn” there were local officials concerned about the family.

“When I saw this particular commercial, I saw it as Toni telling her story (and) she certainly has a right to tell what role she played,” said Hunter, whom Preckwinkle’s campaign quoted praising the candidate in a news release announcing the new ad.

Hunter said he has always tried not to reduce his nephew’s death to someone else getting a job or winning elected office. But he said he thanks everyone who worked diligently to pressure local government over the 2014 shooting.

Many others have taken “ownership” of their role in revealing the facts behind McDonald’s case, Hunter noted.

The family did not know Preckwinkle’s campaign was making the commercial, he said, until staff reached out before it aired to show him the video. Hunter said he was not asked explicitly whether he was OK with it but got the sense that Preckwinkle would not have run the ad without his consent, which he gave. Hunter also he said he would vote for Preckwinkle.

Eager to change the subject in the mayoral race after spending a week talking about her relationship with embattled Southwest Side Ald. Edward Burke, Preckwinkle released the ad Wednesday. On Thursday she called a news conference to address fellow candidate Garry McCarthy, who was police superintendent at the time of the shooting, after he criticized the ad.

By then, Preckwinkle was facing criticism from young activists and others who said she was trying to take too much credit for bringing the alleged McDonald cover-up to light. The Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor at St. Sabina Church, criticized Preckwinkle’s ad, saying it disrespects the contributions of young activists who took to the streets to bring attention to the McDonald case.

Former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement that Preckwinkle’s use of the McDonald video “proves she is not ready to lead.” And policy consultant Amara Enyia released a statement about Preckwinkle’s ad saying nobody should take credit for a community-led effort.

But on Friday, Hunter said he did not agree with the critics and called on activists who are passionate about McDonald’s case to be at the criminal courthouse next week.

Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer who shot McDonald, is scheduled for sentencing. A judge’s ruling also is expected in a conspiracy trial against three current and former Chicago police officers.

“Let’s not expend any time as to whether or not Toni should be mayor or should not be mayor,” he said. “This is not about politics. This is about justice for Laquan.”