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On August 23, 2020, Jacob S. Blake, a 29-year-old American black man, was shot from behind seven times by a police officer in ] United States.<ref name="thedailybeast">{{cite web |last1=Connor |first1=Tracy |title=Wisconsin Police Shoot Black Man as He’s Getting in Car |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kenosha-wisconsin-police-shoot-black-man-as-hes-getting-in-car |publisher=] |date=August 24, 2020|accessdate=August 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name="thewashingtonpost">{{cite web |last1=Peiser |first1=Jaclyn |title=Video shows Wisconsin police shooting a Black man multiple times as he enters a car |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/23/kenosha-police-shooting-video-wisconsin/ |publisher=] |date=August 24, 2020 |accessdate=August 24, 2020}}</ref> Police were attempting to arrest Blake on an open warrant; in the process, Blake was tased and scuffled briefly with officers. He was shot as he tried to enter his SUV, which had his children in the backseat. The shooting sparked protests and outrage, property damage and fires in downtown Kenosha, and further clashes with riot police. Commentators drew links between the Blake shooting, the reaction, and the larger ] movement which had seen a resurgence in the wake of high-profile police killings in 2020, including those of ], ], and ]. | ||
| ==Shooting== | ==Shooting== | ||
Revision as of 14:58, 25 August 2020
Police shooting of Jacob Blake and subsequent protests
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (August 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Date | August 23, 2020 (2020-08-23) |
|---|---|
| Time | c. 5:10 pm (CDT) |
| Location | Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States |
| Type | Police shooting |
| Casualties | |
| Jacob Blake | |
| Non-fatal injuries | Gunshot wounds |
On August 23, 2020, Jacob S. Blake, a 29-year-old American black man, was shot from behind seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin United States. Police were attempting to arrest Blake on an open warrant; in the process, Blake was tased and scuffled briefly with officers. He was shot as he tried to enter his SUV, which had his children in the backseat. The shooting sparked protests and outrage, property damage and fires in downtown Kenosha, and further clashes with riot police. Commentators drew links between the Blake shooting, the reaction, and the larger Black Lives Matter movement which had seen a resurgence in the wake of high-profile police killings in 2020, including those of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Breonna Taylor.
Shooting
Witnesses said that Blake had been attempting to break up a fight between two women. Police were responding to a call about a domestic dispute, and subsequently attempted to subdue Blake with a taser. A bystander who heard police yelling "drop the knife" recorded a video which showed Blake surrounded by police with their weapons drawn. Blake was reportedly unarmed. He walked around his vehicle and attempted to enter it. As he did, one police officer grabbed him and fired his weapon seven times towards Blake's back. Blake's attorney later said that Blake's three sons were inside the vehicle at the time, and that Blake had been going to check on them. Blake was left in serious condition and flown to Froedtert Hospital. His father announced on August 25 that Blake was paralyzed from the waist down.
Investigation
The family of Jacob Blake has retained attorney Benjamin Crump, the same civil attorney who represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown in their civil suits.
Protests
Further information: Kenosha riotProtests followed, leading the Kenosha County government to declare a state of emergency overnight on August 24 after police vehicles were damaged, a dump truck was set on fire, and the local courthouse was vandalized. One officer was knocked unconscious and transported to a hospital after being hit in the head with a brick, and tear gas was deployed. Police urged 24-hour businesses to consider closing because of what it alleged were "numerous" calls about armed robberies and shots being fired. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers deployed the Wisconsin National Guard to maintain public safety after the shooting. Up to 200 members will be deployed.
Reactions
In Wisconsin
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a statement denouncing the excessive use of force by police and invoking the names of African Americans killed by law enforcement. Evers said, "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 called Wisconsin state lawmakers into a special session to pass legislation addressing police brutality.
Elsewhere
Presidential candidate Joe Biden said, "these shots pierce the soul of our nation".
See also
References
- Connor, Tracy (August 24, 2020). "Wisconsin Police Shoot Black Man as He's Getting in Car". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ Peiser, Jaclyn (August 24, 2020). "Video shows Wisconsin police shooting a Black man multiple times as he enters a car". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- "Kenosha, Wisconsin Shooting: Police Shoot Black Man From Behind; Protests Erupt With State Of Emergency Declared". ABC7. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ Bowman, Emma (August 24, 2020). "Wisconsin Police Shooting Leaves Black Man In 'Serious Condition'". NPR. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Pramuk, Jacob (August 24, 2020). "Joe Biden Says Kenosha Cops must be held accountable' for shooting Black man Jacob Blake in the back". CNBC. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ "Kenosha shooting: Protests erupt after US police shoot black man". US & Canada. BBC News. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Peiser, Jaclyn. "After video shows Wisconsin police shooting a Black man multiple times, National Guard is called to Kenosha". Washington Post.
- Flores, Terry (August 23, 2020). "WATCH NOW: State DOJ Will Probe Officer-Involved Shooting; Man In Serious Condition". Kenosha News. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Spells, Alta (August 24, 2020). "Wisconsin police shoot Black man as children watch from a car, attorney says". US. CNN. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Proctor, Clare (August 24, 2020). "Jacob Blake's father says son's paralyzed from waist down after police shooting in Kenosha". Chicago Sun-Times.
- Rogan, Adam (August 24, 2020). "Jacob Blake's family has retained prominent Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump". Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- "Protests in Wisconsin after video appears to show police shooting black man in the back". The Guardian. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Palmer, Ewan (August 24, 2020). "Rioting in Kenosha Over Jacob Blake Shooting, State of Emergency Curfew Declared". Newsweek. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- "Several fires burning in Kenosha as unrest continues after police officer shoots Black man". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- "National Guard deployed after US police shooting". BBC News. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- "Gov. Evers releases statement on shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha". WDJT-TV. August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Beck, Molly (August 24, 2020). "Tony Evers calls special session on reducing police brutality after shooting of Jacob Blake". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Radcliff, J.R. (August 24, 2020). "Prominent Figures React to the Jacob Blake Shooting in Kenosha, Including Joe Biden". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Current events from August 2020
- 2020 in Wisconsin
- 2020 controversies in the United States
- African-American history of Wisconsin
- African-American-related controversies
- August 2020 events in the United States
- Black Lives Matter
- Law enforcement controversies in the United States
- Law enforcement in Wisconsin
- Protests in the United States
- Kenosha, Wisconsin