Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, targeted the police in a statement on Monday in response to a shooting that transpired in Kenosha, Wisconsin, yesterday where police responded to a 911 call about a domestic incident.
The statement from Biden and Harris comes after Wisconsin Democrat Governor Tony Evers immediately moved to criticize the police while simultaneously admitting that “we do not have all of the details yet.”
In a joint statement, Biden and Harris said:
Yesterday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back as police attempted to restrain him from getting into his car. His children watched from inside the car and bystanders watched in disbelief. And this morning, the nation wakes up yet again with grief and outrage that yet another Black American is a victim of excessive force. This calls for an immediate, full and transparent investigation and the officers must be held accountable.
These shots pierce the soul of our nation. Jill and I pray for Jacob’s recovery and for his children.
Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism. It is the urgent task before us. We must fight to honor the ideals laid in the original American promise, which we are yet to attain: That all men and women are created equal, but more importantly that they must be treated equally.
After the shooting, people that were identified by journalists on the ground as being Black Lives Matter activists proceeded to cause significant damage to local businesses via looting and setting fires.
A police officer was reportedly hit with a brick and was instantly knocked out.
Outbreak of anti-police violence in Kenosha, Wisc. after a police-involved shooting of a black male. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Vf5efM5qIR
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 24, 2020
Videos and photographs from Kenosha, which has a Democrat mayor, showed significant damage caused by the violent rioters.
“This used car dealership was set on fire overnight by protesters,” CBS Chicago reporter Vi Nguyen tweeted. “Car Source is just down the street from the Kenosha courthouse. The owners are devastated. Their business a total loss.”
This used car dealership was set on fire overnight by protestors. Car Source is just down the street from the Kenosha courthouse. The owners are devastated. Their business a total loss. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/emYtWNzvh9
— Vi Nguyen (@ViNguyen) August 24, 2020
“Crowd of about 70-90 people took over downtown Kenosha, according to witnesses,” Nguyen added. “Some driving in cars with out of state plates. They came with bats and started smashing windows to stores and restaurants along 6th Avenue.”
Crowd of about 70-90 people took over downtown Kenosha, according to witnesses. Some driving in cars with out of state plates. They came with bats and started smashing windows to stores and restaurants along 6th Avenue. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/VnYnHMMWGf
— Vi Nguyen (@ViNguyen) August 24, 2020
“The owner of this flower shop on 6th Avenue in downtown Kenosha was home when she saw the chaos on Facebook,” Nguyen tweeted. “Her store has cameras and captured people smashing the windows to her flower shop. She’s been in business for 14 years.”
The owner of this flower shop on 6th Avenue in downtown Kenosha was home when she saw the chaos on Facebook. Her store has cameras and captured people smashing the windows to her flower shop. She’s been in business for 14 years. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/ANDsfljbCh
— Vi Nguyen (@ViNguyen) August 24, 2020
Other footage from last night showed the horrifying nature of the violence.
BLM arson attacks overnight in Kenosha, Wisc. spread to the Bradford Community Church, a far-left universalist religious organization. The church’s sign in support of #BlackLivesMatter was consumed in flames. pic.twitter.com/u02CIwsnIm
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 24, 2020
BREAKING: MASSIVE garbage truck fires set in Wisconsin by rioters
— Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) August 24, 2020
BLM rioters have set a car dealership lot a blaze in Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/9vtheKwtth
— Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) August 24, 2020
BLM rioters not holding back by vandalizing and looting local businesses here in Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/wzfWq9OlUU
— Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) August 24, 2020
BLM rioters vandalizing and looting stores in Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/tGHbDzzGzu
— Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) August 24, 2020
The fact-finding website Heavy.com reported that authorities had a warrant out for Blake’s arrest:
According to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access online records, a Jacob S. Blake, same age and with an address in the same exact block where the shooting occurred, had a warrant issued for him on July 7 on pending accusations of misdemeanor criminal trespass to a dwelling with domestic abuse as a modifier; felony third-degree sexual assault with domestic abuse as a modifier; and misdemeanor disorderly conduct with domestic abuse as a modifier. A support action was dismissed, and the only other case that comes up is for not having a driver’s license.
A 2015 story in Racine Eye described how “Racine police say K9 Dozer had to help officers take a man into custody when the man refused to go quietly into custody after he pulled a gun at a local bar.” The man was described as Jacob Blake, 24, of Racine, which makes him the same age as the man shot by police on August 23. The Racine Eye story says he was charged with “one felony count of resisting arrest causing a soft tissue injury to a police officer and one misdemeanor count each of carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, endangering safety-use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct.” Those charges don’t show up on the circuit court website though.
“The Kenosha Police Department released a statement following the shooting that said that officers were called to the 2800 block of 40th Street, which appears to be the same street that was listed on the arrest warrant that had been issued, to respond to a domestic incident,” The Daily Wire reported. “The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating the incident.”
This report has been updated to include additional information.