Protests have erupted in the US state of Wisconsin after police shot a black man several times while responding to what they said was a domestic incident. The man, identified as Jacob Blake, is in a serious condition in the hospital. News BBC.
Video posted online appears to show Mr Blake being shot in the back as he tries to get into a car in the city of Kenosha.
Authorities in Kenosha declared an emergency overnight curfew after unrest broke out following the shooting.
Hundreds of people marched on police headquarters on Sunday night. Vehicles were set on fire and protesters shouted “We won’t back down”.
In a public safety alert, police urged 24-hour businesses to consider closing because of “numerous” calls about armed robberies and shots being fired.
Officers used tear gas to try to disperse hundreds of protesters who defied the county-wide curfew, which is in place until 07:00 on Monday (12:00 GMT).
Most people protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha Police did so peacefully and marched from 40th Street and 28th Avenue to the Kenosha Police Department. But some chose violence. They started several dump trucks on fire, smashed cars, broke windows, and threw bleach bombs. SWAT teams responded by launching tear gas and blocking off the roads with armored tanks.
Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr. wrote on Facebook that his son was “alive and stable.”
Governor Tony Evers issued the following statement:
“Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries. 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 in our state or our country.
We stand with all those who have and continue to demand justice, equity, and accountability for Black lives in our country—lives like those of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy, and Sylville Smith. And we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites.
I have said all along that although we must offer our empathy, equally important is our action. In the coming days, we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognize the racism in our state and our country for far too long.”
