Jacob Blake shooting, live updates: reactions and breaking news in Kenosha
Jacob Blake police shooting reaction and protests
Jacob Blake, Sr., (3rd L) and Julia Jackson (2nd R), parents of Jacob Blake, Jr., arrive with family members outside of the County Courthouse for the press conference in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020.
Jacob Blake, Jr., was shot several times by police may be permanently paralyzed, his family said on August 25. Blake was shot August 23 by a white policeman while getting into a car that held his three children after trying to break up a domestic dispute, according to civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing the Blake family. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP)
Family attorney confirms Blake is paralyzed from waist down
The Blake family attorney, Ben Crump, has confirmed earlier reports that Jacob Blake is paralysed from the waist down after being shot eight times by Wisconsin police on Sunday morning. "Praying it's not permanent," tweeted Crump.
Greenbay Packers issue statement on Jacob Blake shooting
The Greenbay Packers have said they are "shocked" and "deeply troubled" by the Jacob Blake police shooting. While the Packers said they hoped Blake would make "a full recovery", it has since been reported that father-of-three has been left paralyzed from the waist down.
"The Packers organization was shocked to see the video that showed police shooting Jacob Blake multiple times in the back," the statement read.
"We are hopeful Jacob makes a full recovery, and our thoughts are with his family. While we understand a full investigation of this terrible incident will take place, we are deeply troubled at what again has become a painful example of the significant challenges we face with respect to police brutality, systemic racism and injustices against Black people. We continue to call for meaningful dialogue to affect the needed change we all desire."
Water bottles are thrown at Sheriff officers protecting the Kenosha County Courthouse on August 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
According to a report by the Associated Press, Kenosha police force officers are not equipped with body cams. The local authorities approved body cams for law enforcement officials in 2017 but delayed issuing them until 2022 due to financial constraints, the report said. That means there is no officer video footage of what occurred on Sunday.
Jacob Blake: what have Donald Trump and Joe Biden said about the Kenosha shooting?
What have Donald Trump and Joe Biden said about the Kenosha shooting?
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden issued a statement condemning the shooting of unarmed Jacob Blake and his running mate Kamala Harris has also spoken out about the incident. So far, there has been no response yet from the White House.
Read more here:
A man has his eyes flushed after being pepper sprayed by police as protestors rallied outside the Kenosha County Public Safety Building. REUTERS/Stephen Maturen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Jacob Blake's fiancee slams police use of guns
Jacob Blake's fiancee Laquisha Booker who was present when police fired several shots into the 29-year-old's back, criticised the Wisconsin police department for overreacting, "It don't make no sense that you treat somebody like that," she told CBC News. "Who are not armed, are not giving you no problem, ain't thrown no punch or nothing. So you had a gun, so you used it!? You overused it, that's what you did - you shot him numerous times for no reason, and disregard that my kids were in the car. And you knew they were in there because I kept screaming before you even made it to the driver's side to get him in the car".
Jacob Blake reportedly paralyzed from the waist down
Chicago Sun Times reporter Clare Proctor spoke to Jacob Blake's father and was told that the 29-year-old has been paralyzed from the waist down after Sunday's shooting.
A flag flies in front of a department of corrections building after it was set ablaze during a second night of rioting in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rioting as well as clashes between police and protesters began Sunday night after a police officer shot Jacob Blake 7 times in the back in front of his three children. Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP
Jacob Blake "paralyzed from waist down" after police shooting, says father
Jacob Blake has been paralyzed from the waist down as a result of being shot several times by police in Kenosha, his father said. The 29-year-old remains in hospital. Blake’s father, also called Jacob, told the Chicago Sun Times his son has “eight holes” in his body and is paralysed from the waist down.
“What justified all those shots? What justified doing that in front of my grandsons? What are we doing?” Blake’s father asked.
LeBron James: Jacob Blake treatment "wrong and sad"
NBA great LeBron James has taken to social media to voice his sadness at events involving police in the United States. In reference to Blake, he said, "I feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE!! We want JUSTICE!"
"Lasting change"
“I need lasting change and I need us to engage in this in a way that moves forward," says Kenosha community member Terrance Warthen in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Demonstrators throw tear gas back at law enforcement officers on August 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Additional law enforcement was deployed to protect the courthouse. Civil unrest occurred after the shooting of Jacob Blake. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP
Jacob Blake's uncle calls for peaceful protests
"We want justice, and we're going to get justice. We're going to demand justice. But we're going to do that without tearing up our own communities" Justin Blake told CNN after the National Guard was called in to Kenosha.
A man walks towards law enforcement with a camera in his hands up on August 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A second night of civil unrest occurred after the shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, on August 23. Blake was shot multiple times in the back by Wisconsin police officers after attempting to enter into the drivers side of a vehicle. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP
LeBron: "We are terrified"
The NBA star, who has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump and one of the most visible sporting figures in the Black Lives Matter movement, gave an emotional speech after the shooting.
Arsonists set fires as Wisconsin city rages anew over police shooting of Jacob Blake
(Reuters) Arsonists set several buildings ablaze and torched much of the Black business district in a second night of unrest in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, triggered by the wounding of a Black man shot in the back by officers as his three young sons looked on.
Police in riot gear clashed with protesters who defied a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Monday night and into Tuesday morning in central Kenosha, blocks away from where police gunned down Jacob Blake on Sunday in an encounter captured on video.
Blake, 29, survived the shooting and was listed in stable condition following surgery, his father told reporters on Monday.
But the incident, the latest in a litany of cases to focus attention on police treatment of African Americans, unleashed outrage in the lakefront city of Kenosha about 40 miles (65 km) south of Milwaukee.
Blake attorney says he is in stable condition in intensive care
Ben Crump says the prognosis for Blake is not yet known.
Local district attorney on bringing charges against police officers
Local district attorney Michael Gravely discussed what would be required to bring criminal charges against the officers involved in shooting Blake. "One, did any officer in this case commit any crimes? And two, are there any crimes we believe were committed that we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt? If those two things are concluded as a 'yes,' then criminal charges would be brought at the end of that process."
State Attorney General Josh Kaul said his office will "unwaveringly pursue justice in this case."
Governor calls up National Guard
Wisconsin governor, Tony Evers, has called up 125 members of the National Guard to Kenosha to help keep the peace and enforce the curfew that is in place for Monday night from 8pm. He said they would be responsible for “guarding infrastructure and making sure our firefighters and others involved are protected."
Budenholzer: "Thoughts and prayers to Jacob Blake"
Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer addressed the shooting of Blake in a statement to begin his pregame news conference on Monday, hours before his team was set to face the Magic in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series near Orlando.
"I'd just like to send out my thoughts and prayers to Jacob Blake and his family," Budenholzer said. "Another young Black man shot by a police officer. We need to have change. We need to be better."
The Bucks also issued a team statement that read: "We stand firmly against reoccurring issues of excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging the black community.
"Our organization will continue to stand for all black lives as we demand accountability and systemic change on behalf of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sylville Smith, Ernest Lacy, Dontre Hamilton, Tony Robinson, Joel Acevedo and countless other victims. We will work to enact policy change so these incidents no longer exist."
Curfew in place in Kenosha
City authorities have declared an emergency overnight curfew in Kenosha County after unrest broke out over the shooting of Jacob Blake. The curfew runs from Monday night at 8pm to 7am on Tuesday. The curfew is imposed on everyone on the east side of I-94
Vehicles were set on fire on Sunday night and hundreds of people marched on police headquarters. Police officers used tear gas to disperse protesters and a curfew was put in place which expired this morning, Monday, at 7am.
GoFundMe appeal for Blake
Blake's family have launched a GoFundMe, seeking to raise $250,000 to fight for "Justice for Jacob Blake". The funds will go towards his medical bills, legal costs, support for his children and therapy.
As of 16:30 in Wisconsin (23:30 CEST) the fund had raised $173,849 with 5,798 people having donated.
Blake critically injured in shooting
According to Governor Tony Evers, Blake was critically injured in the shooting and is fighting for his life in hospital.
In a statement, Evers said: "Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight. 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."
Evers has called for lawmakers to consider a bill to "increase accountability and transparency in policing", as well as to focus on preventing dangerous policing.
Blake's children were in the car
Jacob Blake's three children, aged three, five and eight, were in the car when he was shot seven times in the back. The two Wisconsin police officers involved were on administrative leave today as state authorities investigate the shooting.
Jacob Blake video: police shoot black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin
VIEWER CAUTION IS ADVISED | The video that captured the shooting of Jacob Blake by police as he opened his car door has sparked violent protests in Wisconsin.
Governor 'stands against' excessive force
The man, identified as Jacob Blake, was hospitalised in a serious condition on Sunday evening after police shot him multiple times after which crowds gathered at the scene, local media reported.
The victim has been identified as Jacob Blake by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers in a tweet. "We stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites," the governor wrote.
Who is Jacob Blake, the black man shot seven times by police in Kenosha?
Blake taken to hospital
The early reports were related to the video captured and shared by someone who was in the vicinity of the incident at the time.
The shooting happened at around 17:00 local time in Kenosha as officers were responding to a "domestic incident". The victim was immediately taken to a hospital by the police, according to a statement issued by the Kenosha police department.
Jacob Blake police shooting
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the reactions and protests in the wake of the killing of Jacob Blake.
It feels like just yesterday when we were reporting on the outrageous killing of George Floyd and the protests and inquests that followed. Now, we find ourselves again decrying the actions of the police force in the US as a black man is caught on camera being shot seven times in the back.
The information coming out is till raw, so we will aim to be as careful as possible as we filter emotions and rumour with the facts of the situation.