This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
KENOSHA SHOOTING: Jacob Blake's Father Reveals Son's Condition ¶
On August 25, 2020, Jacob Blake's father revealed that his 29-year-old son is paralyzed after being shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
According to the father, Blake was shot 7 times in the back by a police officer at close range as he moved towards a car. The incident occurred shortly after 5:00 pm on Sunday.
Blake's sister, Julia Jackson, expressed her anger and frustration over the incident, stating, 'I'm not sad. I'm not sorry. I'm angry. And I'm tired. I haven't cried one time. I stopped crying years ago. I am numb. I have been watching police murder people that look like me for years.'
Protests erupted in Kenosha, with hundreds of residents pouring into the city and some rallying at the Kenosha police headquarters. The protests turned violent, with buildings and cars being torched.
The governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, imposed a curfew on the city, but the protesters defiantly disregarded the order, prompting the police to disperse them using tear gas, rubber bullets, and smoke bombs.
Blake's lawyer stated that he was trying to 'de-escalate a domestic incident' when the police drew their gun and started shooting him.
A witness who took the video and spoke to CNN described seeing police wrestle, punch, and taser Mr. Blake.
The fiance of Mr. Blake questioned why the police would shoot someone who is unarmed, recounting how the children in the back seat screamed when their dad was being shot.
So far, authorities have reported that the officers involved have provided immediate assistance to Mr. Blake and have been sent to an administrative leave.
Mr. Blake's shooting has emerged at a time when the US is struggling to come to terms with the previous shooting of African American George Floyd, who was also fatally shot by the police.
Residents and activists are calling for justice and accountability in the wake of the Kenosha shooting.
