Kenosha on edge as Blake shooting decision nears
Kenosha city officials are preparing for unrest as they wait for the Kenosha County district attorney to make a decision in the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
On Monday, the Kenosha City Council is expected to vote on a resolution put forward by Mayor John Antaramian that, if approved, would create an emergency declaration for the city “regarding potential civil unrest” in the event DA Michael Graveley makes a decision within the first two full weeks of January.
Graveley has said he would make an announcement during that time frame but has not been more specific.
The resolution cites the violent protests that took place in late August after Blake was shot by Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey on Aug. 23. The shooting left Blake paralyzed.
Large protests broke out in Kenosha and caused millions of dollars in damage to public and private property. More than 250 people were arrested on various charges during the unrest.
Some Kenosha businesses already have started boarding up windows and doors, according to a report from TMJ4.
While Graveley mulls whether to charge Sheskey, a pretrial hearing is scheduled for Kyle Rittenhouse on Tuesday in Kenosha.
Rittenhouse is charged with homicide, recklessly endangering safety, possessing a dangerous weapon and failure to comply with curfew after he shot three people Aug. 25, killing two of them, during one of the protests after the Blake shooting.
In the Blake case, protesters have called for charges against Sheskey as well as broad police reform, while others believe there has been a rush to judgment.
In the Rittenhouse case, some, including his attorneys, have claimed he acted in self-defense, while others suggest he was an out-of-control, selfappointed guard. Rittenhouse has said he was guarding a business on the night of the shooting.
Its possible armed protesters might show up on Tuesday for the Rittenhouse hearing as they did on Dec. 3, according to the Kenosha News.