The police shooting of an unarmed Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin led to protests and civil unrest in that city over the weekend.
Jacob Blake, 29, was shot by a police officer in front of his family on Sunday. Cellphone video of the shooting sparked outrage on social media.
The video shows Blake walking away from two white police officers who have their guns drawn. Blake ignored repeated demands from them to stop.
He was shot multiple times in the back when he opened the driver side door of his SUV and leaned inside while an officer grabbed his t-shirt.
Blake’s three minor children were reportedly in the back seat of the vehicle when he was shot.
He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is listed in serious condition while recovering from surgery.
Luke Reitruoc, the cop who shot Blake, is a former hospital security guard who was recently hired by the Kenosha Police Department. He has been placed on administrative leave.
Several videos uploaded to social media showed the aftermath of the shooting, as demonstrators faced off against police officers around midnight. One cop was hit in the head with a brick. His condition is unknown.
The city of Kenosha issued a curfew until 7 a.m. as news crews captured footage of small groups of people breaking store front windows and setting fires to vehicles.
The governor said the courthouse would be closed because of extensive damage.
Gov. Tony Evers tweeted that he stood “against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites.”
Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020
Evers tweeted, “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.”
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.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020
We stand with all those who have and continue to demand justice, equity, and accountability for Black lives in our country—lives like those of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy, and Sylville Smith.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020
And we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020
I have said all along that although we must offer our empathy, equally important is our action. In the coming days, we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognize the racism in our state and our country for far too long.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020
