Jacob Blake's family attends inauguration as guests of President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris

Liz Nagy Image
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Jacob Blake's family attends Biden inauguration
Jacob Blake's uncle speaks about attending the inauguration of President Biden in Washington D.C.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Signs of greater racial equality were center stage on the Capitol steps Wednesday. It was a moment for racial justice activists.

From the view of one of the few ticketed seats in the crowd, Justin Blake watched with pride.

He said his movement - marches after Kenosha police shot his nephew, Jacob Blake, last summer - helped make this moment possible for President Biden and Vice President Harris.

"We helped turn Wisconsin from red to blue. There's no question," Blake said. "Every city we marched in, we marched 3-5 times each city - Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee - and enough so that they flipped the state."

Blake's family were personal guests of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C.

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"Things are changing, numbers are changing in our country," Justin Blake said. "And we know that more women and more brown and African American people are going to be a bigger part of this process and sit in that White House."

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Racial justice groups helped elect President Biden and Vice President Harris. With celebrations winding down, Blake said hard work is ahead.

"He (Biden) was reaching out to African Americans and letting them know, thank you for trusting us and having the faith in putting us in the White House," Justin Blake said.

Blake said they were at the inauguration with members of Breonna Taylor's family. They will all head back to Washington next month to begin work on the George Floyd bill, which Blake said has to do with policing tactics.