Third night of unrest grips Kenosha as protesters lob fireworks at cops; police fire tear gas in response
Earlier in the evening there was a brief standoff between Black Lives Matter demonstrators with a half-dozen counter protesters. ‘You loot, we shoot,’’ one shouted.
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KENOSHA, Wis. — Several hundred Black Lives Matters demonstrators clashed again with authorities Tuesday night in Kenosha, the third night of unrest following the police shooting of a Black man over the weekend.
Shortly before 9 p.m., protesters starting throwing bottles and rocks at police stationed behind a fence erected in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse, which had been damaged in the previous nights. Flags were set on fire and some large fireworks were thrown at officers, some of whom retreated inside the building as protesters attempted to push over the fence.
“Arrest the police!” marchers shouted.
A short time later, police in riot gear started firing pepper balls and tear gas back at the crowd.
Earlier in the evening, there was a tense standoff between the demonstrators and a half-dozen armed men, including some dressed in military fatigues and carrying weapons. A woman with the smaller group shouted, “You loot, we shoot!”
“This infuriates me and is an example that they would rather protect infrastructure than people’s lives,” activist Gregory Sherman said. “We are here demanding justice for Jacob Blake and everyone else ... They’d rather bring their guns to try and intimidate us.”
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Few police accompanied the marchers as the took to the streets earlier in the evening, and none could be seen outside the newly erected fences around the courthouse.
Although Gov. Tony Evers said he planned to send 250 more Wisconsin National Guard troops to the city to protect state buildings and support first responders and firefighters, few could be seen except around the courthouse.
“The ability to exercise First Amendment rights is a critically important part of our democracy and the pursuit of justice. But there remains a line between peaceful assembly and what we saw last night that put individuals, families, and businesses in danger,” Evers said in a statement.
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Eerie day
The march took place as a city curfew went into effect at 8 p.m. for the third night in a row. Officials said it would stay in place until 7 a.m.
Tuesday afternoon, Blake’s family held a press conference demanding justice for Blake, who family feared could end up paralyzed, but after his mother asked that no more looting or destruction take place in this city of 100,000 in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Furniture store destroyed
Earlier Tuesday, businesses along a usually busy stretch of 60th Street near downtown were reduced to blackened rubble and firefighters were still dousing hotspots. Windows everywhere were shattered, stores looted. At Civic Center Park, across the street from the courthouse, a handful of community volunteers roamed the area picking up garbage.
They better watch out for some Mr. Brooks types who want to Purge a lot of people really upset about these riots want to go hunting!
ReplyDeleteVOLLEY FIRE PRESENT!!
ReplyDeleteSA office up there bought and paid for by the left. prepping to throw the officer under the bus. The Antioch kid is another political sacrifice. They should give him a medal.
ReplyDelete