Kenosha, Wis. under emergency declaration ahead of decision in Jacob Blake case

File – Jacob Blake is pictured. (Courtesy Adria-Joi Watkins via AP)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:43 AM PT – Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Authorities in Kenosha, Wisconsin have declared a state of emergency ahead of a decision on whether to charge officers involved in Jacob Blake’s shooting. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth made that announcement in anticipation of “rioting, looting and civil unrest.”

BREAKING: 🚨Emergency Declerarion declared by Kenosha Co. Sheriff ahead of charging decision in #JacobBlake police shooting.

“The city and county of Kenosha may experience rioting, looting, damage to county and city property and civil unrest.”

Live at 10 on ⁦@WISN12News⁩ pic.twitter.com/ta0Rr0zzah

— Tanner Kahler (@tannerkahler) January 5, 2021

According to reports, it’s not a typical declaration as it only allows department employees to work longer hours in preparation of violent protests. Some small businesses in the area have begun boarding up their windows despite the pleas for non-violence.

Meanwhile, demonstrators gathered on Monday night in anticipation while asking their community to gather in support and urge authorities to take action. A county-wide curfew and other traditional state of emergency measures have not yet been imposed.

Justin Blake, uncle of Jacob Blake, leads a march Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, in Kenosha, Wis. Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey opened fire on Jacob Blake in August after responding to a domestic dispute. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Blake was shot seven times last August by officer Rusten Sheskey who was attempting to detain him alongside two other officers. All officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave pending the district attorney’s investigation.

The particular incident further fueled left-wing protests and riots sweeping the nation since the death of George Floyd last May. Following the shooting, rioters tore through the streets of Kenosha, where they destroyed many local businesses and set fire to multiple cars. The Kenosha riots ultimately lead to two deaths.

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