We are demanding justice for Jacob Blake. Following the shooting of the father of three on Sunday, protests have erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin. And rightly so.
After the widespread anger and frustration that the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other victims sparked within America, one could imagine police to [at the very least] think twice before pulling a trigger.
But, yet again we meet in tragedy. AND THIS NEEDS TO STOP.
We go to church on Sundays
Flashbacks to the death of George Floyd haunted us on Sunday afternoon when another video captured police brutality. One more white police office firing several shots into a black man’s back.
Before the shooting, 29-year-old Blake had been barbequing with his children, a neighbor reported. He was helping to deescalate a domestic situation when all of a sudden seven or eight officers arrived.
Not interested in talking, Blake started to put his kids in his vehicle to leave. The video shows how he was followed by a white officer with a gun on hand who appeared to have no remorse when firing at least seven shots in front of Blake’s three children.
The shooting of Jacob Blake demands justice
“He’d be out here with us right now. It’s a bad dream. I’m just waiting for him to come outside,” said one of the neighbors who refused to give his name because he feared police retaliation.
The trauma, sadness, and fear are shared by all.
“They saw a cop shoot their father,” Civil rights attorney, Ben Crump confirmed on Twitter.
“They will be traumatized forever. We cannot let officers violate their duty to PROTECT us. Our kids deserve better!!”
"Can you imagine the psychological issues these three babies are going to have for the rest of their lives, seeing their father shot these many times in the back from the people who were supposed to protect and serve him?” – Ben Crump, attorney for Jacob Blake and his family. pic.twitter.com/qVbDpQAHhR
— CNN (@CNN) August 24, 2020
Jacob Blake was immediately airlifted to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee for surgery, where he remains in delicate conditions. He is now paralyzed from the waist down. According to Blake’s father, doctors don’t know if the paralysis would be permanent.
Enough is enough
Naturally, enraged protestors rushed to the streets on Sunday evening after the video circulated through social media.
Again, a Wisconsin county declared an emergency curfew after Sunday protests. At least three garbage Kenosha garbage trucks were burned and businesses’ windows were shattered.
At least 100 people raced to Kenosha County Public Safety Building by 10:15 p.m., chanting, “No justice, no peace.”
It’s again a flashback of what happened only weeks ago with the death of George Floyd.
“If we don’t have the systematic reform that this moment in America is crying out for, then we are going to continue to see hashtag after hashtag, protest after protest, and cities burning all across America,” Crump said.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has not given any information about the identities of the officers, but promise that they are on leave (as if that was enough).
Several public figures have called for justice, including NBA star Lebron James, who leads the charge for justice.
And y’all wonder why we say what we say about the Police!! Someone please tell me WTF is this???!!! Exactly another black man being targeted. This shit is so wrong and so sad!! Feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE!! We want JUSTICE https://t.co/cJxOj1EZ3H
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 24, 2020
Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers, has also called for police accountability for the incident.
I am urging the Legislature to rise to this occasion and give this special session the urgent and productive effort this moment demands and that the people of Wisconsin deserve. More on this announcement is available here: https://t.co/dkIqZc5T0H.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020
And, Joe Biden, who seems to be America’s only salvation at the moment, called for an investigation and the dismantling of systematic racism.
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.
We need a full and transparent investigation. https://t.co/9X7l25nq8d
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 24, 2020
The night before the protest, in Lafayette, Louisiana, a 31-year-old man Trayford Pellerin, was killed outside a convenience store by another police officer in the city.
As the elections approach, the fury and grief caused by the long-standing systematic racism manifest continually, it is important to realize that we are way past the time of change.
We really need to start to take action.
UPDATE: According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, Blake’s father said his son is paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors don’t yet know whether the injury is permanent.