Relative Quiet as Trump Visits Kenosha

Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter activists clashed, but elsewhere, a Justice for Jacob Blake event had an almost festive atmosphere.

By
41

KENOSHA, Wisconsin–If the attendees of the Justice for Jacob Blake block party were bothered by President Donald Trump’s trip to the turbulent city on Tuesday, they weren’t letting on.

“As far as him coming here, I think I’m optimistic,” said Norvelle Woods, who lives nearby.

“I think that all media is always good media, so him being here is positive,” Woods told me, flanked by his small black Cane Corso puppy Okoye (named for the warrior princess played by Danai Gurira in the movie Black Panther.)

“As long as there’s attention to it, we can all come up collectively with solutions.”

Start a Free Trial
Get every newsletter and all of The Dispatch. Support quality, fact-based journalism. Get Started ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN
41
By
Comments (41)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Avatar photo
    cheerio

    I read Trump used "crisis actors" to pose with him in front of a burnt out business. The guy who owned it did not wish to be used as a prop.

    Collapse
  2. Raincheck

    There are many layers of tragedy in all these police shootings. One is that people like Jacob Blake end up being held up as symbols of blacks in America. Their names and their stories are used to illustrate a very real problem.

    But they usually reflect a lot of the worst racist stereotypes of African Americans. Model citizens, of any color, rarely end up in fatal conflicts with the police. So here we have a man wanted for felony sexual assault. That is what conservatives often grasp on to - he had it coming! Liberals brush his violence against women aside to focus on the police action involved.

    There’s not much we can do about it - as long as we have police shootings they will tend to involve people like Jacob Blake. Who don’t deserve to be shot, and who don’t deserve to be held up as martyrs. And who make very poor symbols for blacks in America.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      DougAz

      So much for Jacob Blake's innocent standing under the Constitution.

      Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    Aylene Wright

    Great article, pointing out how the majority of Kenosha residents, even those with an interest in "justice for Blake", aren't actually taking to the streets.

    But there is one big caveat. Um ... Justin Blake called for the officer involved to be indicted for *murder*, even though his nephew wasn't actually killed? Or did you mean "attempted murder"? Please clarify.

    Collapse
  4. Joe1776

    "But Trump has yet to condemn the Rittenhouse killings, which have become a cause célèbre among many of his supporters. During a protest taking place across the city, one Trump supporter yelled into a bullhorn, demanding “Justice for Kyle Rittenhouse,” calling him an “American hero.”"

    Although I don't call the people there "American hero[es]" I think it is right to request justice for everyone - Kyle Rittenhouse and the state of Wisconsin. Justice may be a conviction or an acquittal or a dismissal. I have looked for any lawyer that would look at the the tapes and the statutes and thinks this should end in homicide conviction.

    I also think we should ask for justice for Jacob Blake for the sexual assault charges he is facing. Justice whether it is an acquittal or a conviction or a dismissal I hope it is done.
    https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/this-is-why-jacob-blake-had-a-warrant-out-for-his-arrest/

    It seems odd that the NBA and so many seem intent on making Jacob Blake a hero.

    Neither he nor George Floyd were heroes. Unless the charge of this lady on Blake was a lie I think that is obvious to anyone. But our culture and certain politicians bully us into acting like they were heroes. When will more Americans get the backbone to stand up to those bullies and speak the truth?

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      DougAz

      Truth. We need to fire racist cops. They are heros to me because they were denied any Constitutional Rights by being murdered by vile disgusting white racist cops. Or severely injured.

      The bullies need weeded out of the police. Frankly, given the inane number of military tours of duty, those folks who like to live in combat should be disqualified as police.

      Collapse
      1. Anonymous

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          DougAz

          awesome. I think this is a good object lesson. Cops trained to kill, paramedic trained to save lives

          Collapse
    2. JMD

      Justice begins with due process. Vigilantes and bad cops who use lethal force unnecessarily and inappropriately deny we, the people, our right to call for due process and justice.

      Collapse
    3. Kevin Dolan

      By all accounts so far, George Floyd was a victim. Almost no matter what led up to the 9 minutes, he shouldn't have been killed and whatever what was in his blood stream and any diagnoses he would have had Officer Chauvin muddied those waters forever

      Breonna Taylor was a victim and a stand up citizen

      Jacob Blake - investigation ongoing

      Ahmaud Arbery - a victim, though not of the police, and the justice
      system may still fail him

      Also a victim? David Dorn

      Conflating any or all of these is pure sophistry.

      Collapse
      1. JMD

        The only case I take issue with is Arbery's, because the retired police officer involved had a working relationship with the prosecutor's office, and the prosecutor gave him a pass as a result. It wasn't unil months later, and a huge public outcry, that the Arbery case was re-examined. If this had happened 10, 20 years ago, we'd never have heard about it, and Arbery's killers would have gotten away with their heinous actions that day, all as a result of the retired officer and his relationship with the prosecutor. That very much ties back to the existing police department and justice system in that area.

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          cheerio

          I think it indicates an institutional tolerance for racism and discrimination. Would they have hunted that man the way they did if he were white? I doubt it.

          Collapse
          1. JMD

            That was such a strange turn of events. The father, retired officer, knew Arbery. He claimed he was only concerned because of reported robberies in the area. The only reported robbery was the retired officer reporting his gun stolen out of his truck. It sounds like the retired officer and his son and friend were hoping to pin the robbery of that gun on Arbery. Why? What had they done with that gun that they reported it stolen and were hoping to pin the robbery on Arbery, someone the father knew from prior arrests?

            Collapse
    4. Avatar photo
      J.R.

      If you're truly concerned about justice, then your call for it should be applied equally; justice for Rittenhouse and those he shot, justice for Blake and the officer who shot him, justice for Floyd and the officers who were restraining him when he died. Framing these events (and what I hope we all want to be a thorough and neutral legal process) in partisan terms by selectively presenting a positive interpretation for one side and selectively presenting a negative interpretation for the other, simply advances some preferred narrative, not justice.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Aylene Wright

        The problem is that so many people think "it was on video. I know what I saw!" Or even without watching any video, are convinced that Rittenhouse was obviously defending himself, or obviously went to Kenosha coldbloodedly planning on murdering people, or that Blake definitely did or didn't have a knife in his hand, or isn't a rapist. Some are even convinced that Blake was killed. While the availability of phone cam footage may have increased transparency by police agencies, it's also resulted in way too many people jumping to conclusions based on video footage taken out of context.

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          DougAz

          Shot in the back is murder. Anywhere. Anytime. These were angry, PTSD, scared, racist vile, white cops shooting a black man in the back 7 times in front of children. Attempted murder. As far I am concerned they should be fired with no benefits. Like we do in business for non compliance

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            rlritt

            I agree. I don't know how anyone could support this. They could have hit a child in the backseat. Would it have been so bad if had drove away? They had his license plate and knew his name.

            Collapse
        2. Avatar photo
          J.R.

          This is a great point. I'm not really sure how we deal with the impulse to jump to our preferred conclusions, and to cherry pick evidence that supports them. I used to think it was being partially driven by the push for radical transparency, and that we could try to address it by pushing for revised transparency laws and requirements. Now though, I think it's something that can only be addressed by individuals, groups, and organizations acting responsibly; we need a social contract that emphasizes the need for patience and reason, until what information there is is available and the process has had a chance to play out. I know some impact may be lost by letting a volatile and important issue die down a bit, but I think the benefit (in accuracy, fairness, and productive discussion) outweighs the costs. I think strict fact-checking and a willingness to correct the record on the part of media organizations would help too, as well as leaders reigning in their own impulses to drive partisan conflict.

          Collapse
        3. Avatar photo
          rlritt

          Kyle Rittenhouse is a victim. He's 17 and shouldn't have been running around a dangerous situation with a gun. He certainly isn't a hero.He's a kid wbo was misguided by grownups that should know better. Maybe his parents should go on trial.

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            DougAz

            I respectfully disagree. A 17 year is effectively an adult. I believe he only lived with his Mother. When it comes to teenagers committing murder... I have no mercy in my heart.

            Rittenhouse, the Columbine 17 yr olds, Sandy Hooks 20 yr old.

            You know I'm very liberal and progressive.

            But I have long been a death penalty advocate for such murders. Maybe Life without parole for Rittenhouse.

            Collapse
        4. Avatar photo
          Aylene Wright

          Er. "Is or isn't a rapist".

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            rlritt

            They didn't say rape, I think it was sexual misconduct so it sounds like a domestic incident. Not to minimize it but he still didn't need to be shot in the back.

            Collapse
    5. Avatar photo
      Mark Lange

      Perhaps you're right. In the case of Jacob Blake, I believe it was the manner in which his life was ended. Law enforcement runs in my family, and to say that seven shots were appropriate when leaning into a vehicle is a question that will need to be answered by a jury. However, as a white 55-year-old Christian male, I believe I can empathize with those who feel like the system has not been equal in the past.

      It's not whether or not Floyd or Blake are heroes. For myself, it's whether or not they are human and humanely treated. The terminal condition of death should only be utilized when an innocent life is threatened, in my opinion. And therefore, it appears to many that the system has failed them. Peace

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        rlritt

        I agree. There needs to be more training to teach them how to diffuse a situation before they get their guns out.

        I worked with a guy whose father was an FBI agent. He got a degree in Criminal Justice and was hired by a police dept in a large midwest city. He quit within a year because he said the police force was run like a gang. There was nothing about stopping crime. They routinely falsified evidence and harassed people they didn't like. Maybe its police learship that needs to change.

        Collapse
      2. Avatar photo
        Aylene Wright

        Um ... Jacob Blake's life was not ended. (Checked right now,.) But you are far from the only one who thinks he was actually killed. The Federalist Tweeted that he had, then deleted it. CNN has been caught putting up chyrons of a "deadly shooting" or a "police killing" of Blake.

        But seeing how so many people commenting on the shooting doesn't even know if Blake is alive or dead, underscores how much this shooting has become merely a symbol of larger grievances, not an actual referendum on one cop and one suspect.

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          rlritt

          He is paralyzed. So I believe they mean his life as was is ended.

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            Aylene Wright

            The guy referred not to paralysis but to the "terminal condition of death", though. Hope he clarifies? But if the overall point is that police are too quick to resort to deadly force in general, as Blake certainly COULD have died, I get that.

            Collapse
      3. Peter

        This right here, these are human beings. If you value human life you should be valuing all life.

        These are still fellow Americans.

        Collapse
  5. Avatar photo
    Victor Clairmont

    Yeah...Jacob Blake even without what the police did to him...is a very terrible man by the accounts of the orders against him for sexual assault and beating up his GF and mother of his 3 kids.

    Let’s see what the investigation turns up. And the people that released half the video to the internet and lied about it initially are trash.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      cheerio

      I don't know what you mean by orders against him or previous claims? Is that why he took 7 bullets to his back? I am all for following the law but summary execution by firing squad does not appear to me to be the American Way. At any rate, if he was guilty of those things, would he not have his day in court and serve whatever sentence given by a judge?

      Collapse
    2. JMD

      Even terrible people have the right to due process, though. We can't excuse bad police behavior by saying, oh, the victim was a bad guy so it doesn't matter. Our rights are only as good as how they are carried out for the least or worst among us

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Victor Clairmont

        No one is saying due process should be eliminated. Goodness no, due process is needed more than ever with the crazy mobs.

        Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    cheerio

    I am tired of hearing about protesters and counter-protesters. At this point, they are street performers and I wonder who they are working for. The addition of the Trumpsters is a bad one and will only lead to more death as they come armed. It is bad enough that among the protesters are opportunists (political, criminal, apolitical) who seek to ratchet up violence and destruction. If the protesters stay home, what are those bad actors going to do? They will have no cover. The Trumpsters are just providing another foil for them. I never thought I would say this but I cannot wait for it to snow (I live in snow country).

    Collapse
  7. Tim Johnson

    Nice article, thank you. Didn't get a lot of media attention, perhaps because it didn't fit the 'Leftist mobs destroying American!' narrative, and in fact represents what 99% of these protests have been: peaceful, and hopeful for a better day.

    Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Mark Lange

    Thank you for these powerful observations and words.

    "Regardless of how we look at it—today, tomorrow, next president, another president—[racism] will always be the scab of America,” Woods said. “Sometimes we peel that scab and we have to make it heal again.”"

    Oh God help!


    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Chris L

      It's a fantastic analogy - it's a scab, it's a frustrating and painful wound, but it doesn't have to be disfiguring. Just stop picking at it and let it heal, and take your antibiotics/wound care if you have to, even if it takes a long time. If you keep picking at it, it'll rebleed and get worse and potentially disfiguring, then you get sick and maybe even septic from the cellulitis.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Mark Lange

        I completely agree - a scab is a perfect analogy. And unfortunately, some wounds are in incredibly awkward places, and merely going about daily life the tiniest irritations can become more and more severe. In my view, racism is THE longstanding potential social comorbidity in America. What's the solution? A disinformation wound vac, social chemo, racial radiation, bigotry amputation or...?

        Ultimately, as a Christian, I wholeheartedly believe racism is a spiritual problem and the only lasting solution will be Spiritual, also. Peace

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          rlritt

          It would really, really help if the police would stop shooting people.

          Collapse
          1. JMD

            I wish "defund the police" or "abolish the police" had never been uttered. We so desperately need police reform, but we do not want to defund or abolish good policing. Those phrases and the dopey mayors who caved to the fringier elements among the protesters killed any real national focus on reforming police training, minimizing the interference of police unions, re-examining QI, and tearing down the blue wall that allows bad cops to continue bad behavior unpunished.

            Collapse