Jason Van Dyke to Take Single Black History Class for Parole

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By Aaron McDavis

Chicago, IL-- Former CPD officer, Jason Van Dyke, was granted an early release from prison after reluctantly agreeing to three years of mandatory supervised release plus a half-hour long class on Black History. While meeting with his parole officer over the weekend, Van Dyke registered for the court-issued class titled “Black History Studies For Convicted Officers”. The class will meet on the final Friday of February and will, if completed, allow him to finish the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. Van Dyke, who was convicted of second degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery after fatally shooting Laquan McDonald in 2014, admitted doubts of success after buying his required textbook, "Afro-Bets Book of Black Heroes" from the clearance basket in Family Dollar. “Please keep me in your prayers. I’m not sure I can do this,” said Van Dyke. “Three years in prison is one thing. But twenty pages of Rosa Parks? How is this legal?”

The Black History program was developed in response to public outcries against police shootings in the city and to demonstrate Chicago officials’ efforts to reform the justice system. “This shows that no one is above the law.” said Judge Vincent Gaughan who sentenced Van Dyke in 2018. “We need to let people know that when it comes to justice, no one is off the hook. So, we’re sending the message loud and clear: if you’re a cop and you’re going to shoot a young black kid in the back sixteen times while he’s walking away, get ready to serve half of a seven-year sentence and then write a report over the weekend on the guy who invented peanut butter.”

Still, some find the class requirement to be excessive and exceptionally cruel. Former president of The Fraternal Order of Police, Kevin Graham, calls the program “an attack” on law enforcement designed to torment and degrade a police officer. “Did these boys make a mistake? Sure. But come on. Leave them some dignity! I mean, look at Van Dyke. The police union just hired him back. How’s he supposed to work for us and gain appreciation for the Civil Rights Movement? You’re setting him up to fail!”

At press time, Jason Van Dyke was seen finishing a pre-class reading assignment on the Chicago activist, Fred Hampton. When asked if he believed receiving these lessons could possibly help in making amends with Laquan McDonald’s family, Van Dyke sincerely responded “who?”