Jacob Blake’s father shares son’s condition after shooting, national guard deployed
The family of Jacob Blake has retained the services of civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump
Jacob Blake’s father has given an update on his son who was shot by Kenosha, Wisconsin police multiple times just as the governor of Wisconsin has deployed the national guard.
In a post attributed to Blake’s father, he wrote that “my son is still alive and stable,” after he intervened in a domestic violence incident that almost turned fatal. Blake’s three children were inside the SUV when their father was shot while he was getting back in the driver’s door side.
Other family members also shared their updates on his condition to social media.
Read More: Wisconsin police shoot Black man several times from behind, sparking protests
As theGrio previously reported, the 29-year-old was shot in the back by Kenosha officers on Sunday as he walked away from them. Seven gunshots could be heard on graphic footage taken of the altercation.
Officers are shown providing aid to Blake before he was taken to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. He is currently in intensive care.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation announced that the unnamed officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.
However, that has not stopped the backlash from the unarmed Black man being shot and has led to protests that included businesses being vandalized and cars being set on fire.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized the “limited mobilization” of the Wisconsin National Guard to support Kenosha law enforcement in the aftermath of Blake’s shooting. The Guard is expected to deploy 125 members.
Read More: Tensions heightened over fatal police shooting of Louisiana Black man
“I know folks across our state will be making their voices heard in Kenosha and in communities across Wisconsin,” Evers said in a statement. “Every person should be able to express their anger and frustration by exercising their First Amendment rights and report on these calls to action without any fear of being unsafe.”
The Democratic official also offered his words of support for the family.
He also called for a special session on police reform on Aug. 31.
“We must begin the long but important path towards ensuring our state and country starts to live up to our promise of equity and justice,” Evers said during a press conference Monday. “I’m urging Republican leadership to rise to this important moment in history — to put people before politics and to put the lives of Black Wisconsinites above politics.”
The family has retained the services of famed civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump who called the actions of the police “irresponsible, reckless, and inhumane.” He said Blake was attempting to break up a domestic violence incident and that it was a “miracle” he was still alive.
“We will seek justice for Jacob Blake and his for his family as we demand answers from the Kenosha Police Department. How many more of these tragic ‘while Black’ tragedies will it take until the racial profiling and undervaluing of Black lives by the police finally stops?” Crump said in a statement.
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