Hundreds of demonstrators in Kenosha, Wisconsin, took to the streets on Sunday (August 23) after 29-year-old Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man who was trying to get into his car, was critically wounded by an officer from Kenosha Police Department after being shot multiple times in the back, several news outlets report (Kenosha News, Washington Post, ABC7) in addition to the state’s Governor Tony Evers (D-Wis.).
“While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country,” Evers tweeted on August 24 shortly after the shooting.
While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.
rn— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020
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Civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, who is now representing Blake in addition to George Floyd’s family, shared additional specifics via Twitter, including the horror that Blake was shot in front of his three small children. According to a statement released by Crump on Twitter, Blake was trying to deescalate a domestically tense situation “when police drew their weapons and tasered him. As he was walking away to check on his children, police fired their weapons several times into his back at point-blank close range.”
Confirmed: Jacob Blake’s 3 SONS were IN THE CAR he was getting into when @KenoshaPolice shot him tonight. They saw a cop shoot their father. They will be traumatized forever. We cannot let officers violate their duty to PROTECT us. Our kids deserve better!! #JusticeForJacobBlake
rn— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 24, 2020
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The family of Jacob Blake has retained @BenCrumpLaw. We will seek #JusticeForJacobBlake and his family. We demand answers from @KenoshaPolice. pic.twitter.com/hpOr2tmdif
rn— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 24, 2020
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Early this morning a person close to Blake’s family tweeted that he was out of surgery and out of ICU. USA Today reports that Blake remains in critical condition. The anger that erupted after the shooting in broad daylight was shared on video, resulted in several fires, including the ground floor of the Kenosha County Courthouse, smashed cars and broken windows, ABC7 reports. One bystander video on Twitter even shows a police officer being smashed in the face with a brick.
With national tension around police killings high, Kenosha declared a state of emergency overnight curfew last night, according to CBS 58, and the state’s Department of Justice is investigating the shooting. As for the officers who shot Blake, CNN reports that both are on administrative leave and neither has been identified. Nonetheless, both politicians and people on social media have responded with anger and calls for substantive change.
Three boys just saw their father shot 7 times in the back by police. No gun. No struggle. He was just walking away.
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rnPraying for Jacob Blake to make a speedy and full recovery.
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rnThe issue is systemic. The senate needs to respond boldly and humanely.
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rnThis is why we scream BLM! https://t.co/pTsgsLB5tarn— Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) August 24, 2020
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Jacob Blake’s sons were in the car when police shot him.
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rnPhilando’s girlfriend’s daughter was in the car when police killed him.
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rnTarika’s baby was in her arms when police killed her.
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rnPolice don’t care about traumatizing Black children.rn— Kirsten West Savali (@KWestSavali) August 24, 2020
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Late Sunday afternoon in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jacob Blake was the victim of another disgusting act of police brutality.
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rnWithin full view of his 3 children seated in the backseat, Blake was shot 7 times in the back while walking away from police officers and opening his car door.rn— ACLU (@ACLU) August 24, 2020
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You will start hearing negative stories from the right about Jacob Blake, who clings to life after he was shot in the back 7 TIMES by cops in front of his 3 sons.
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rnNone of the negative stories matter. HE was the victim here.
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rnSAY HIS NAME. pic.twitter.com/oSqfz6M2Nvrn— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) August 24, 2020
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He was trying to break up a fight.
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rnHe wasn’t armed.
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rnHe was relieved police had arrived to handle the fight, so he went to get in his car and drive his children safely home.
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rnThey shot him seven times.
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rnIn the back.
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rnIn front of his children.
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rnSay his name.
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rnJacob Blake.#blmrn— Aisha Tyler (@aishatyler) August 24, 2020
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Jacob Blake wasn’t committing any crime. Instead of asking why he didn’t comply, ask why an officer who was called to the scene for 2 white women fighting somehow shifted his attention to this Black man, drew his gun on him, and shot him 7 times in the back.
rn— Olayemi, Esq. (@msolurin) August 24, 2020
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