In an incident (23rd August) that was filmed and shared widely on social media, 29-year-old African-American Jacob Blake can be seen walking away from several police officers. As he opens the door of a gray SUV, an officer grabs his shirt and shoots him seven times from behind.
Three of his young children were in the car at the time.
Blake is now in a hospital in Wauwatosa fighting for his life. Blake's father, the elder Jacob Blake, told a publication today that his son has been paralyzed from the waist down. "What justified all those shots?" Blake asked. "What justified doing that in front of my grandsons? What are we doing?"
The police officers involved have been placed on leave, and Kenosha has declared an emergency curfew after protests continued into the morning.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice will investigate the shooting, per The Washington Post.
This news comes almost three months since George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.
As a result, the last few months have seen protests - some peaceful, some violent - erupts over the nation, as people call out the systemic injustices carried out against black people, not least seen by the recent deaths of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, and Breonna Taylor.
As well as a call for justice, these ongoing protests are also demanding an end to police brutality and the racism that is so deeply entrenched in America and the western world.
Here are a few things you can do to demand justice for Jacob Blake:Sign a petition calling for justice for Jacob Blake, here.
Donate to the Milwaukee Freedom Fund which is helping protestors in the city of Kenosha with bail funds. Find it here.
A GoFundMe has been started by Blake's family to "go toward Jacob’s medical bills, legal representation, support for his children and therapy costs." Find it here.
Podcast host @ankita_71 has created a guide of the Wisconsin officials to call and email to demand justice.
Split a donation between bail funds across the nation, here.
Donate to Black Lives Matter, here.
VT proudly supports Black Lives Matter, and for more ways to contribute to the cause, please click HERE.
