The National Guard has been deployed to Kenosha, Wis., after a night of civil unrest following the shooting of a Black man by police over the weekend, the latest incident to unleash widespread anger over policing practices.
Gov. Tony Evers said the 125 Guard members would be tasked with supporting local law enforcement in Kenosha by helping to “protect critical infrastructure and assist in maintaining public safety and the ability of individuals to peacefully protest.”
“I know folks across our state will be making their voices heard in Kenosha and in communities across Wisconsin. 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,” he said in a statement. “This is a limited mobilization of the National Guard focused on supporting the needs of local first responders to protect critical infrastructure, such as utilities and fire stations, and to ensure Kenoshians are able to assemble safely.”
Garbage and dump trucks were set ablaze on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020 by rioters near the Kenosha County Courthouse where they had been set up to prevent damage to the building. The building was still damaged and was closed on Monday. (Sean Krajacic/Kenosha News via AP)
The move comes hours after the city became the latest flashpoint in a nationwide reckoning over police brutality and racial injustice that has seen violence erupt in multiple cities across the country in recent months.
On Sunday night, protesters took to the streets after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man shot in the back. Officers initially responded to reports of a domestic dispute, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said.
During riots that mirrored similar unrest in other cities, a car dealership lot was set ablaze, buildings were vandalized and one officer was reportedly hit with a brick. The county courthouse and an administrative building were closed Monday due to vandalism…
Continue Reading