More than 1,300 gather in Blue Island to protest 75 Year Old Latino man's Death

Antonio Manrique Beaten by Cops
Although hundreds of people were crowded in the room, no one uttered a sound Tuesday night as Priscilla Martinez made her tearful plea for justice. "This guy that did this took my grandfather, and I'm never going to see him again," the 18-year-old said. "Something should be done." Her grandfather, 74-year-old Antonio Manrique, died Sunday afternoon at St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, days after he was tackled to the ground by a Blue Island police officer in what police are calling a case of mistaken identity. On Tuesday nearly 300 people -- mostly Hispanic -- crammed into Blue Island City Hall to shout, cry and voice their frustration with the situation, and what they said is an ongoing problem of discrimination against Hispanics in the city. Meanwhile, outside city hall more than 1,000 people gathered and shouted in protest of Manrique's death. "Justice for Manrique! Justice for Manrique!" the crowd chanted as they stared down Blue Island, Calumet Park, Robbins, Midlothian and Cook County sheriff's police who blocked Vermont Street at Western and Greenwood avenues. [more ]

• Blue Island mayor asks for federal help toquell racial problems between Hispanics and Police [more ]
• Elderly Latino Man Beaten by Police Dies [more]