Image credit: Tito Texidor III/Unsplash
Trigger Warning – police brutality against Black people
Kenosha, WI – An emergency curfew is in effect in Wisconsin after mass protests over the shooting of a Black man in Kenosha yesterday. The unrest began after Jacob Blake was shot in the back by police officers. This marks yet another incident of violence between Black Americans and members of a local police force. The Blake family is reporting that Jacob is partially paralyzed from the waist down.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers requested assistance from the National Guard to help with law enforcement, infrastructure protection, and maintaining public safety. The Democratic Governor told the media, “This is a limited mobilization of the National Guard focused on supporting the needs of local first responders to protect critical infrastructure such as utilities and fire stations, and to ensure Kenoshians are able to assemble safely.”
According to Ben Crump, Jacob Blake’s representative and a well-known civil rights attorney, Blake attempted to deescalate a domestic incident before police tasered and opened fire on him. Talking with the media, Crump questioned how many more times racial profiling and police violence against Black people will continue.
Governor Evers called for more transparency in the Wisconsin police force. He suggested having a special legislative session to develop standards of force for police officers throughout Wisconsin. The governor deems racism a major public health issue needing immediate attention.
Neither the Governor’s office nor Ben Crump responded to The Current Affairs Times for comment. However, Governor Evers wrote a public Facebook post where he wished Blake would not succumb to his wounds. With more national protests against police brutality, will officials see this as a call to action?
Attached in the sources list is a video of the police shooting. The original video was posted by Raysean White. It contains footage of gun violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
Image credit: Tito Texidor III/Unsplash
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