Police shooting of Jacob Blake sparks protests in Wisconsin

CNN

A third consecutive night of unrest is unfolding in Kenosha, Wisconsin, nearly two hours after the 8 p.m. curfew took effect.

Police were heard on a bullhorn telling a group of protesters at the Kenosha Courthouse that they were taking part in an "unlawful assembly." 

Earlier Tuesday, protesters gathered at the Kenosha County Courthouse and attempted to tear down a fence around the building. 

Dozens of police officers were seen in riot gear coming out of the front door. 

The police fired tear gas into the crowd of protesters. 

A CNN team saw either officers or guardsmen perched on the roof of the courthouse shooting pellets down at rowdy protesters. 

Currently, there are around 50 guardsman stretching the length of the block on their side of the fence. 

Attorney Benjamin Crump speaks as family members of Jacob Blake hold a news conference in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Police have not given a reason for why they shot Jacob Blake, Blake's attorney Ben Crump told CNN's Sara Sidner.

"Right now, the police haven't said none of what their reason was for shooting him seven times in the back," Crump said.

Instead, police officers were trying to obtain statements from Blake's family, Crump said.

Crump also asked several questions of the officers involved in Blake's shooting:

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth asked residents to obey the 8 p.m. curfew tonight, following a night of protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake.

Blake was shot multiple times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He has been paralyzed, his family's attorneys said.

The shooting has spurred protests and unrest in the state, prompting Gov. Tony Evers to declare a state of emergency on Tuesday and the deployment of an additional 125 Wisconsin National Guard troops to Kenosha.

After demonstrators torched cars and set buildings ablaze on Monday night, Blake's mother called for peaceful protests and said her son would not be pleased with "the violence and the destruction."

“If you want to protest peacefully, by all means go out and do it. It’s your right,” Beth said in a written statement on Tuesday. “But don’t be a part of this destructive force that’s burning our community."

Beth wrote that he expects Tuesday to be “another very challenging night,” but noted that there will be an increase in law enforcement presence.

“People are frustrated, I get it. And they’re scared. I certainly get that, too,” Beth said. “Don’t be a part of this destructive force that’s burning our community. That’s not a productive path to justice."

CNN's Nicole Chavez, Eliott C. McLaughlin and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.

The US Justice Department and FBI agents in Wisconsin are now reviewing the circumstances surrounding the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a federal law enforcement source tells CNN. 

Federal investigators are gathering information in order to determine whether a federal civil rights investigation will be launched, the source said. 

Police shot Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, at close range Sunday evening as he tried to enter an SUV. He remains in the hospital in stable condition. 

Some context: The announcement by federal officials of their involvement makes it the third concurrent review into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Blake. As CNN has previously reported, Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley's office is investigating the shooting, as is the Wisconsin Justice Department's Division of Criminal Investigation.

Detroit Lions safety Duron Harmon addresses the media with his teammates outside the Lions NFL football camp practice facility on August 25 in Allen Park, Michigan. Carlos Osorio/AP

After a team meeting that lasted hours and was centered around the Sunday shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer, the Detroit Lions canceled practice Tuesday.

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford praised head coach Matt Patricia and the coaching staff for opening the floor during the team meeting and said the conversations among players continued in the Lions locker room after a 45-minute break. Ultimately, the team decided to cancel practice.

“It’s just important for people to understand that, yes, we’re football players; we’re at camp, we’re in the bubble. But, we have brothers, we have sons, we have fathers, we have cousins, nephews that... they’re not in camp. They’re not in a bubble. They really have to go and deal with real world situations," Lions Defensive End Trey Flowers said.

Jacob Blake Sr. speaks during a press conference in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25. CNN

Jacob Blake's father described his anguish over the shooting at a news conference Tuesday.

"They shot my son seven times like he didn't matter, but my son matters," Jacob Blake Sr. said.

Blake Family Attorney Ben Crump, second from left, speaks during a press conference in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25. CNN

Blake Family Attorney Ben Crump called for prosecutors to arrest the officer who shot Jacob Blake.

When asked why police violence keeps happening, Crump said it is because of "deliberate indifference."

"People question why we have to say 'Black Lives Matter' –– this is why. Because Julia and Jacob Sr.'s son was not treated with the humanity that we often give our white brothers and sisters. And it has to stop, and it has to stop at the highest levels of our government," he said.

He called for police, prosecutors and judges to take action to stop incidents like this from happening. He pointed to other examples such as the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, adding, "we cannot turn a blind eye to the deliberate indifference."

Blake family attorney Patrick Salvi speaks during a press conference in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25. CNN

Blake family attorney Patrick Salvi detailed the injuries that he said Jacob Blake suffered after being shot multiple times by Kenosha police.

"He suffered damage to his kidney and liver," he added. "And was also shot in the arm."

He said while he is in surgery right now, "it is not going to be his last surgery."

Earlier today CNN reported that Blake is currently paralyzed from the waist down.

Attorney Ben Crump said that "it is going to take a miracle" for Blake to walk again.

Salvi said that the family will file a civil lawsuit.

Julia Jackson, Jacob Blake's mother, speaks during a press conference in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25. CNN

The parents of Jacob Blake, the man who was shot in the back by a police officer on Sunday as he tried to enter an SUV, called for healing and condemned violent protests.

Julia Jackson, Blake's mother, asked the people of Wisconsin to "take a moment and examine your hearts."

"As I was riding through here, through this city, I noticed a lot of damage that doesn't reflect my son or my family," Jackson said at a news conference Tuesday. "If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased."

Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr., thanked everyone for the support.

"I like to thank everyone for coming out in support of my son with this senseless attempted murder that was committed on him. They shot my son seven times, seven times. Like he didn't matter. But my son matters. He's a human being, and he matters," he said.

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