Shots fired and cars torched at Kenosha protest over shooting of Jacob Blake as state of emergency declared
SHOTS have been fired and cars were torched as protests rage over shooting of Jacob “Jake” Blake.
A state of emergency had to be declared in Kenosha County, Wisconsin after Blake was gunned down on Sunday evening.
A citywide curfew was issued until 7am on Monday morning to contend with the widespread civil unrest.
Shocking footage showed Blake, a 29-year-old dad, being shot at least seven times in front of his sons, who were waiting in a grey SUV on 40th Street.
Last night, hoards of of protesters arrived at the scene of the shooting before before descending on the Kenosha police station.
Neighbors and demonstrators later headed towards the Kenosha County Public Safety Building, which authorities had mostly blocked off.
Videos shared on social media showed them banging on the precinct window, screaming “F*** the police!”
Riot cops reportedly held plastic shields and batons to move people out of the way and used pepper balls as SWAT vehicles remained on the streets, reported KABC-TV.
A TMJ4-TV reporter posted that local cops later deployed tear gas.
Another disturbing Twitter recording shows protesters hurling molotov cocktails and bricks at cops standing near a patrol car as one officer was struck down by a flying object.
Enraged rioters also lit dump trucks and garbage trucks on fire.
Kenosha County was forced to close the The Kenosha County Courthouse and Administration Building “due to damage sustained during last night’s civil unrest.”
The building was also spray painted during the violent clash.
The demonstrations come after Blake‘s three son’s saw their dad being shot as police responded to a domestic dispute he wasn’t involved in.
“We will not excuse the actions of the Kenosha Police department, but his mother asks everyone to please remain peaceful,” one family member tweeted.
Blake’s loved family have retained a civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who said Blake was helping to deescalate a domestic incident when police drew their weapons and tasered him.
Crump told The Sun as Blake was walking away to check on his children when police fired their weapons several times into his back at point blank range – in front of his kids.
“His three sons witnessed their father collapse after being riddled with bullets,” Crump said in an email.
“Their irresponsible, reckless, and inhumane actions nearly cost the life of a man who was simply trying to do the right thing by intervening in a domestic incident.
“It’s a miracle he’s still alive,” Crump added, vowing to seek justice for the Blake family
“How many of these tragic ‘while Black’ tragedies will it take until the racial profiling and undervaluing of Black lives by the police finally stops?” Crump concluded.
Likewise, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers condemned the “excessive use of force” in front of Blake’s kids and there have been demands for the officer be brought to justice.
In the video of his shooting, one cop can be seen grabbing his tank top and apparently shoots him at close range.
How many of these tragic ‘while Black’ tragedies will it take?
Attorney Ben Crump
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) confirmed the incident is being investigated in a press release.
The officers involved have all been place on administrative leave.
Blake came out of surgery this morning after being rushed to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, where he remains in ICU.
In an emotional video posted to his Instagram Stories, his dad Jacob Blake (Sr) said nothing “[justifies] shooting my son in the back eight times” as other family members spoke out.
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A Change.org petition has been set up calling for the cops involved to be charged.
DCI, Wisconsin State Patrol and Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office are heading up an investigation into Blake’s shooting.
It comes three months after George Floyd‘s police custody death in Minneapolis triggered outrage and Black Lives Matter demonstrations across the United States.