On 24 August 2020 protesters took to the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin after a Black man was shot multiple times in the back by the local police while his children watched.
Jacob Blake, 29 was shot in the back seven to eight times as he walked towards his vehicle.
Blake’s family reported that he was in a stable condition after undergoing surgery, the following day. Blake’s father added that he was paralyzed from the waist down.
The recent ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement fueled by the death of George Floyd brought systemic racism and police brutality towards people of color to light.
Similarly, the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers caused an uproar amongst the people of Wisconsin and resulted in them taking to the streets to protest against racial inequality and demand justice for Blake.
A video of the incident was also being circulated on twitter which caused civil unrest. While peaceful protesters screamed “no justice, no peace” in the name of Blake, rioters looted shops, vandalized government property and, burned down buildings and businesses.
As a result, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers deployed the National Guard to Kenosha. An 8 p.m. curfew was imposed and protesters were tear-gassed.
Jacob Blake was trending on Twitter as outrage and shock took over Twitter users:
Jacob Blake is now paralyzed because a white cop considered an unarmed black man a threat… White America needs to get it and they need to get it quick… It don’t matter if YOU are ‘not racist.’ Americas police departments have become breeding grounds for white people who ARE!!
— Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) August 25, 2020
Another black man shot multiple times by police officers…It’s shoot first & detain second in these streets. Multiple officers were present….he could have been grabbed…he could have been tased….He could have immediately been stopped when he started walking around the car
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) August 25, 2020
Joe Biden even called for a “full and transparent investigation.” And Kamala Harris seconded that proposition by tweeting: “the officers involved should be held accountable.”
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
Jacob Blake should not be fighting for his life right now.
As @JoeBiden said, there must be an immediate investigation and the officers involved should be held accountable.
Jacob, our nation is praying for you and your entire family. https://t.co/F4CSs6JnjS
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 24, 2020
Celebrities reached out to the general public and requested them to sign petitions to put pressure on the government to charge the police officers that shot Blake:
Here's a petition you can sign and share to help put pressure towards getting justice over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. https://t.co/m2dhBARwrE
— Hozier (@Hozier) August 25, 2020
Praying for this man and his family. We DEMAND a new world. We need change, we need these cops ARRESTED, and we need a sign that this government has enough empathy and cares enough about humanity to do something about it. #JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/3fwSp6Lzmi
— camila (@Camila_Cabello) August 24, 2020
What are you doing to help serve justice?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!