US: Wisconsin expands Nat’l Guard presence amid unrest

ANKARA

The US National Guard will beef up their presence in Kenosha, Wisconsin after a police shooting left a Black man potentially paralyzed for life and sparked mass unrest, the state’s governor said Tuesday.

"We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction," Tony Evers said on Twitter.

"We are assessing the damage to state property and will be increasing the presence of the Wisconsin National Guard to ensure individuals can exercise their right safely, protect state buildings and critical infrastructure, and support first responders and fire fighters."

Noting that incidents Monday night "put individuals, families and businesses in danger," Evers stressed: "We cannot forget the reason why these protests began, and what we have seen play out over the last two nights and many nights this year is the pain, anguish, and exhaustion of being Black in our state and country."

Dozens of buildings were reportedly damaged as fires were started in the city overnight Monday.

The Democratic governor called on demonstrators to protest "peacefully and safely," urging them not to “allow the actions of a few to distract us from the work we must do together to demand justice, equity and accountability."

Evers declared a state of emergency in a separate statement, saying that 250 members of the National Guard will be on the ground to meet local needs.

The move comes after Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times in an incident that has triggered widespread outrage and made Kenosha the latest flashpoint of the US's continued struggle with racial injustice and police shootings of Black men.

"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," Blake's father, who bears the same name, said at a press conference, adding the shooting was a "senseless attempted murder."

Sunday's shooting occurred as police were responding to a "domestic incident," the Kenosha Police Department said in a statement.

Graphic bystander video that emerged on social media appears to show Blake being shot multiple times after he opens the door to a car and attempts to enter.

Ben Crump, a high-profile attorney retained by Blake's family, said while speaking alongside the Blake family that it would be a "miracle" for the victim to walk again following the shooting. Blake "at this moment" is paralyzed, Crump said.

"His family is very faithful and they believe in miracles, but the medical diagnosis right now is that he is paralyzed, and because those bullets severed his spinal cord and shattered some of his vertebrae...it is going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake, Jr. to ever walk again."

Blake is currently undergoing surgery to recover from the shooting.

Crump previously said the victim was shot in his "back at point-blank range" by police after he attempted to break up "a domestic incident" while his three sons looked on from inside his car.

The video that circulated online appears to show Blake walking away from police as they attempt to apprehend him with guns drawn. They open fire after Blake, who appears unarmed, opened the door and began to enter with his back facing the two officers.

Crump represents the families in several high-profile shootings of Black men, including those of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating Blake's shooting, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.

*Michael Hernandez contributed to this report from Washington