Crowds rally in Chicago protesting #LaquanMcDonald case

Hundreds are marching in Chicago to express their discontent with police and the city handling the case of Laquan McDonald, a black teen shot and killed by a police officer a year ago. Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder.

Video showing Van Dyke opening fire on McDonald and striking him 16 times and killing him was released on Tuesday after the indictment.

READ MORE: BlackLivesMatter solidarity protesters arrested in New York City

Activists rallying for a second night said “We are going to shut down the streets” until Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to them.

Activists marching down Michigan Avenue.

Protestors are marching back to Michigan Avenue, the main shopping area in Chicago, They are stopped in front of the ABC News studios which are on groundlevel where anchors are presenting, to chant "Hands up! Don't Shoot!" 

Protesters numbering in their hundreds chanting "Sixteen shots, sixteen shots!" "Which side are you on? Justice for Laquan!" as marchers file past The Trump International Hotel in Chicago's downtown Loop. The names of those killed by police are being read out. Buses of protestors are due to arrive from Ferguson and Balitmore to show support later tonight. 

Chicago’s biking police shutdown the entrance to 290 expressway where protesters went on Tuesday.

Chicago police have arrested two protesters and taken away in handcuffs as activists marched through the financial district on the second night of protests over shooting death of a black teenager by a white police officer.

Leaders of about a dozen community groups told the Associated Press the protests they are organizing over the next few days will be about more than the death of Laquan McDonald.

Activist JR Fleming says: "We are angry because this city has declared war on black people."

Charges were dropped against an activist arrested for accusations of wielding a punch to police officer during a demonstration on Tuesday night following the release of dash-cam video showing the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

The activist, Malcolm London, 22, had been charged with felony aggravated battery but those charges were dropped during a bond court hearing Wednesday afternoon as protesters gathered to call for London's release, according to Chicago NBC.

The White House released a tweet with a statement from President Obama that he was “deeply disturbed by the footage of the fatal shooting” of Laquan McDonald. He thanked police but added “I’m personally grateful to the people of my hometown for keeping protests peaceful.”

Protesters rally in New York’s Washington Square Park to show solidarity with protesters in Chicago.

Police make their first arrest for the night at a New York solidarity rally. Protesters rallied to show support for Chicago demonstrators. 

Police used video cameras to record protesters as they marched through the streets around Washington Square Park chanting, "Indict, convict, send the killer cops to jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell." As other protesters chanted, "We are not ISIS."

Outraged crowds rallied in front of the 4th police precinct Tuesday evening after the release, but the protest was peaceful.