Thousands join march to demand justice for Jacob Blake
KENOSHA, Wis. (WLS) -- Family members of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin held a "Justice for Jacob" march and rally Saturday afternoon.
The peaceful demonstration was joined by Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, and a host of activists and supporters.
"We are clinched together," said Jacob Blake Sr. "We stand here together. No justice. No peace. No justice. No peace."
Jacob Blake's father told the crowd in Kenosha that it's his job to stand up for his son.
"What gave them the right to attempt a murder on my child? What gave them the right to think that my son was an animal? What gave them the right to take something that was not theirs? I'm tired of this," Blake Sr. said.
"I really feel sorry for families that have to go through this type of trauma," said Dr. LaShawn Littrice, a Flossmoor resident. "Think about it. If it wasn't for a camera that we saw, would anybody ever even know about this or would they even believe what happened?"
Thousands of people marched through the streets of Kenosha demanding justice for Jacob Blake Saturday.
People have been on the streets protesting since Blake was shot by a Kenosha police officer on Sunday. Blake's family says he's paralyzed from the waist down.
"There was no excuse to shoot Jacob Blake in the back seven times," said Tio Hardiman, executive director of Violence Interrupters. "No excuse at all."
"He is not Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor. He is going to be here to be able to share his experience," Kenosha resident Tyrone Payton said.
"Until you put on this brown suit, you will never understand the fear of the bubble gum lights," Blake Sr. said.
Blake's father said he wants to put an end to police violence in Kenosha and the country.
"We are going to the top y'all," Blake Sr. said. "We are going to make legislation happen because that's the only thing they recognize. One person, one vote."
Blake's father is encouraging people to continue protesting peacefully, and said he does not want people to tear down the city. A curfew remains in place.