Trump accused of stoking unrest with plan to visit city of shootings
US President urged to stay away from Kenosha amid protests against police, writes Jack Mcgregor
MOST of the people arrested in demonstrations against police brutality since the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, were not city residents, according to police.
Of the 175 people arrested during protests in Kenosha since Mr Blake was shot in the back on August 23, leaving the 29-year-old black man paralysed, 102 have addresses outside of Kenosha, including 44 different cities, police said.
Protesters have marched in Kenosha every night since Mr Blake’s shooting, with some demonstrations becoming violent and buildings and vehicles getting damaged.
Authorities say two protesters were shot and killed in Kenosha by a teenager from northern Illinois last Tuesday.
Many of the arrests were for curfew violations and also included possible charges for burglary, possession of illegal drugs and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. About 20 firearms were seized.
Mr Blake was shot in the back by officer Rusten Sheskey seven times after three Kenosha police responded to a domestic dispute call. The Kenosha police union said Mr Blake had a knife and fought with officers. However, state investigators have said only that officers found a knife on the floor of the car.
Mr Blake is being treated in hospital. His father, Jacob Blake Sr, said he is paralysed from the waist down.
While about 1,000 people attended a rally to protest against police violence on Saturday, a demonstration to support police on Sunday drew about 100 people to Civic Centre Park in downtown Kenosha.
Some attending the rally wore “back the blue” shirts. Others carried American flags. They applauded when law enforcement vehicles rolled by.
Some people at the rally signed petitions urging the recall of Governor Tony Evers and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, both Democrats, and added messages of support on handwritten posters thanking police.
Mr Evers wrote to US President Donald Trump on Sunday, urging him to reconsider his plans to visit Kenosha today.
“I, along with other community leaders who have reached out, are concerned about what your presence will mean for Kenosha and our state” Mr Evers wrote. “I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.”
Kenosha County Board supervisors also wrote to Mr Trump on Sunday, urging him not to consider cancelling his trip to Kenosha.
“Kenoshans are hurting and looking for leadership, and your leadership in this time of crisis is greatly appreciated by those devastated by the violence in Kenosha,” the letter from seven supervisors said.
Democrats have accused Mr Trump of trying to inflame racial tensions and incite violence to benefit his campaign after protests erupted in Oregon.
Mr Trump unleashed a flurry of tweets and retweets the day after a man identified as a supporter of a right-wing group was shot and killed in Portland.
The president praised the caravan participants as “GREAT PATRIOTS!” and retweeted what appeared to be the dead man’s name along with a message to “Rest in peace”, as well as retweeting those who blamed the city’s Democratic mayor for the death.
Mr Trump wrote: “The people of Portland, like all other cities & parts of
He may think that war in our streets is good for his re-election chances, but that is not presidential leadership – or even basic human compassion
our great Country, want Law & Order. The Radical Left Democrat Mayors, like the dummy running Portland, or the guy right now in his basement unwilling to lead or even speak out against crime, will never do it!”
Mr Trump has sought to cast cities as under siege by violence and lawlessness, despite the fact that most of the demonstrations against racial injustice have been largely peaceful.
Some of his advisers see an aggressive law and order message as the best way for the president to turn voters against his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, and regain the support of suburban voters.
But Democrats accused Mr Trump of rooting for unrest and trying to stoke further violence for political gain.
“He may think that war in our streets is good for his re-election chances, but that is not presidential leadership – or even basic human compassion”, Democrat candidate and former vice president Joe Biden said.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, blamed Mr Trump for the tensions.
“Do you seriously wonder, Mr President, why this is the first time in decades that America has seen this level of violence?” he asked at a televised news conference.
“It’s you who have created the hate and the division.”