Chicago, IL – The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Min. Wendell Harris & Anthony Davis officials from the Kenosha, Wisconsin NAACP, the Urban League, Senator Lena Taylor (D-Wisc.) the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), are holding an 11:30 a.m. press conference Thursday, August 27, 2020, at the Froedtert Kenosha Hospital, 6308 Eighth Ave., in Kenosha, Wisc.
Rev. Jackson, who will also be accompanied by Bishop Tavis Grant, national field director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, will respond to the shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, who was shot seven times in the back as he attempted to enter his SUV. While police claim Blake had a knife, Department of Justice agents later said the knife was found on the driver’s side of the floorboard. Blake’s three sons, ages 3,5 and 8 were in the back seat of the car during the shooting.
Rev. Jackson is raising questions about the double standards concerning the arrest of 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who is white, charged Wednesday with allegedly shooting three people Tuesday night killing two and wounding the third.
Seeking answers, Rev. Jackson wants to know how was Rittenhouse able to walk by police, his hands up in the air with his semi-automatic weapon strapped across his shoulder as witnesses to the shooting called for his arrest. Rittenhouse, who is from Antioch, IL, was arrested Wednesday.
After three nights of turbulent protests and looting, Rev. Jackson is calling for peace to prevail, but he is also calling for a transparent and unbiased investigation. “There is a system of racism in law enforcement and now is the time to address it,” said Rev. Jackson.
And at the invitation of Blake’s family, Rev. Jackson will pray and counsel the family at the Froedtert Hospital, 900 N. 92ndSt., in Milwaukee, Wisc., at 1:30 p.m.
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