There have been reports of clashes on the second night of protests in Wisconsin, following the police shooting of a black man Jacob Blake on Sunday. According to the local media reports, Blake is in stable condition after being shot several times as he was going to his car in Kenosha.
In response to the ongoing protests, the state’s governor, Tony Evers, called in the National Guard to assist the local law enforcement agencies. Earlier in May, the killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, led to mass protests systematic racism and police brutality.
More
- Black man shot in back by police in Wisconsin city
- US: Police Shoot, Kill Black Man Outside Store In Louisiana
The mass demonstrations across the cities in the US highlighted the treatment of African Americans at the hands of the law enforcement agencies and prompted a reflection on racism in American history and society.
In Kenosha, the authorities have imposed a curfew and are expected to last until Tuesday evening, however, many protesters have defied the restrictions. Meanwhile, Governor Evers said in a statement that he called in the limited mobilization of National Guard at the request of local officials. He added that the move aims to protect the critical infrastructure and make a safe environment for people protesting.
Evers further added that every citizen should be able to express their frustration and anger by exercising their constitutional right. However, the governor’s response has faced criticism.
On Monday, hundreds of protesters began to protest. Initially, it remained largely peaceful; however, when water bottles were thrown at the police officers, they responded by firing tear gas. As the protests past the curfew timings, they turned even more violent with fireworks thrown and police officers with flash-bang grenades and smoke bombs, local media reported.
A few hours later, there were reports of the city’s structure on fire, including the building of the Department of Corrections along with several cars. According to local media, nearly 200 National Guard troops have been deployed.
On Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied to Police headquarters and called for the arrest of police officers involved in the brutal shooting. Meanwhile, the governor has also called on an emergency meeting of the state legislature on August 31. The session aims to discuss the set of laws regarding transparency in the police. These were proposed earlier this year in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis.
In a separate development, the Democratic Presidential candidate, Joe Biden, condemned the killing and called for an independent investigation. The Department of Justice in Wisconsin said it is investigating the incident. However, the police officers involved have been placed on administrative leave by the department.
