The echo of anti-racist protests that began in late May after the brutal murder of African American George Floyd by white policemen has not ended, while a new round of riots on the streets of one of the American cities ensued.
Mass demonstrations have already taken a deadly turn: during the night skirmishes, pistol shots killed two people and another was wounded.
The central government hastened to send security officials to the city, stressing that it would not tolerate "violence and lawlessness", while the protesters, meanwhile, received support from the players of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which has become unprecedented in the sports world.
The policeman fired point-blank. Blake had no firearms
Little is known about the reasons of the incident that happened last Sunday, (August 23) in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
For example, here is the version of the lawyer Benjamin Crump, who represents the interests of the victim:
#SayHisName: This is 29yo Jacob Blake. He was shot several times in the back by @KenoshaPolice tonight after breaking up a fight. We will get #JusticeForJacob!! https://t.co/eqnRiXCs4B pic.twitter.com/y1CBt4WNRC
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 24, 2020
#SayHisName: This is 29yo Jacob Blake. He was shot several times in the back by @KenoshaPolice tonight after breaking up a fight. We will get #JusticeForJacob!! https://t.co/eqnRiXCs4B pic.twitter.com/y1CBt4WNRC
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 24, 2020
The defense attorney clarified that the incident was witnessed by Blake's three sons, who were in the car during the shooting.
Other eyewitnesses in the Kenosha News commentary confirmed the lawyer's version, saying that Blake tried to end the quarrel between the two women.
According to them, at first, the police used a stun gun, and then at least seven shots were heard.
The Guardian has shared a video showing a black man walking away from the officers and bypassing the car to get inside. While he was driving an SUV, a police officer grabbed the man by the shirt, probably trying to hold him, and then shot him seven times at the point-blank range.
The video shows that Blake does not have a weapon in his hands, but a little later Euronews reported that a knife was found in his car.
More than fifty residents of nearby houses came to the sound of the shots - they chanted curses at the officers. As the crowd grew, law enforcement officers arrived at the scene.
In a press release from Kenosha police, which was released Sunday evening, it was said that law enforcement officers came to the call because of a "domestic quarrel."
No further information was provided about the shooting and its reasons.
It is still unclear why there was a quarrel between the two women, who they were to Blake, and who called the police. By the way, the latter were suspended from work until all the circumstances were clarified.
The Office of Criminal Investigation, which is part of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, has promised to provide a report on the incident within 30 days.
Reference. Kenosha is a city with 100,000 residents, located on the shores of Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee.
Arsons and collisions. The first victims
The demonstrations, which almost immediately escalated into riots, began on the very first night after the shooting and hospitalization of 29-year-old Jacob Blake.
Say his name JacobBlake #dcprotest #dcprotests #blmprotest #ACAB #blm #Blacklivesmatter #JacobBlake#KenoshaProtests pic.twitter.com/rNXcoV2yze
— RawsMedia™ (@rawsmedia) August 24, 2020
First, people tried to break into the Kenoshi police building, demanding the arrest of the officers involved in the incident, and then clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers took place near the district court building.
The protesters burned cars, threw various objects at the police, to which the latter responded with tear gas.
Happening now: Four garbage trucks on fire in front of Kenosha Court house. SpectrumNews1WI pic.twitter.com/a5Na7sYNSW
— Michelle London (@MichelleDLondon) August 24, 2020
In the morning, Kenosha decided to impose a curfew. As indicated on Twitter by the city police department, the measure was taken "in connection with numerous cases of robbery and shooting in the streets."
Apparently, the protesters ignored the curfew. In one of the night clashes, two people were killed by pistol shots and another was injured. A 17-year-old white American from Illinois was detained on suspicion of premeditated murder.
In WI, it is illegal for a minor to possess a firearm. So please tell me how this person, who a neighbor has identified as a 17-year-old, was in possession of an AR-15-style assault rifle last night in #Kenosha that he used to kill 2 people? #KenoshaShooting #KenoshaProtests pic.twitter.com/oG1msz50bF
— Louis Klarevas (@Klarevas) August 26, 2020
Against this background, American leader Donald Trump announced his decision to send reinforcements from the security forces to the city.
We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets. My team just got off the phone with Governor Evers who agreed to accept federal assistance (Portland should do the same!)...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2020
According to him, the decision to reinforce Kenosha was made after the White House offered federal assistance to the Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, and he agreed to it. Evers himself, according to the NBC15 television channel, initially refused support from Washington.
Blake's mother, commenting on the current situation in the city, said: "I have noticed a lot of destruction. This is not at all like the will of my son or my family."
Demonstrations against violence also swept in other American cities, such as Chicago, Portland (Oregon), Madison - the capital of Wisconsin, and Louisville (Kentucky).
Who is Jacob Blake?
Jacob Blake is a father of six and worked as a private security guard. At the time of the shooting, his sons were 8, 5 and 3 years old in the car, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The victim's neighbors describe him as a friendly, cheerful person who is often seen with their children.
Immediately after the incident, Blake was taken to the hospital, where he was operated on. The bullets shattered some of the vertebrae and injured the spinal cord, which left the man paralyzed from the waist down. According to lawyer Benjamin Crump, it will take a miracle for Jacob to walk again.
He also suffered damage to several internal organs, which will require additional operations. Blake is now in stable condition.
Support for Blake and the protesters
Many celebrities and politicians have expressed outrage at the actions of the police.
US presidential candidate Joe Biden called for a full and transparent investigation into the incident.
Yesterday, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police. His kids watched from the car. Today, we woke to grieve yet again.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 24, 2020
We need a full and transparent investigation. https://t.co/9X7l25nq8d
American rapper Cardi B shared a video of the incident on her Instagram, leaving the following lines below it:
The actions of the police were also condemned by singer Demi Lovato, rapper 50 Cent, actor Justin H. Min, famous for his role as Ben Hargreaves in the Netflix Umbrella Academy, actor Michael Jordan, Grammy-winning singer Ariana Grande, model Haley Bieber and others ...
In protest against the shooting at the African American, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has suspended playoff matches of the season.
The NBA and the NBPA today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – MIL-ORL, HOU-OKC and LAL-POR have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled.
— NBA (@NBA) August 26, 2020
It all started when the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted the fifth playoff game with the Orlando Magic, and after them the basketball players of Houston, Oklahoma, Portland and Lakers refused to play
"To hell with all this, we demand change. I'm sick of it!" - LeBron James, the leader of the Lakers, wrote on Twitter.
The boycott was also joined by a Japanese tennis player, former world number one in women's singles, Naomi Osaka.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
