After Jacob Blake, an African-American male, was shot several times by law enforcement late Sunday evening, protests and outrage sparked within the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
So much so that the city declared an emergency curfew in an effort to keep those not participating in the protests safe, as well as mandate a sense of order.
Blake, 29, is hospitalized in serious condition after the viral video that surfaced on social media showed him walking away from multiple officers who had their guns drawn at his back. Blake walked around his car, opened his door and got in when the officers proceeded to fire seven shots into the car.
According to reports, Blake’s three children were inside the car at the time but were unharmed.
This latest incident comes in the midst of a widespread call for social reform as a result of African-Americans continuously being gunned down by police officers. George Floyd’s death in May led to a flurry of protests across the country and a call to action in the wake of racial injustice.
Roughly two hours away from Kenosha, those within the Green Bay Packers’ organization were impacted strongly by the recent shooting. The team issued a statement on Monday.
Statement from the Green Bay Packers https://t.co/njJWpt6sWN
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 24, 2020
“The Packers organization was shocked to see the video that showed police shooting Jacob Blake multiple times in the back. We are hopeful Jacob makes a full recovery, and our thoughts are with his family.
“While we understand a full investigation of this terrible incident will take place, we are deeply troubled at what again has become a painful example of the significant challenges we face with respect to police brutality, systemic racism and injustices against Black people. We continue to call for meaningful dialogue to affect the needed change we all desire.”
Head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers were among those expressing their disdain with the situation during their respective press conferences on Monday with LaFleur citing his disgust.
Matt LaFleur was especially emotional when asked what it’s been like for him to digest what he saw in video of Jacob Blake’s shooting. “It keeps happening over, and over, and over again, and it blows my mind that we’re sitting here in 2020, and we can’t treat everybody the same.” pic.twitter.com/FEEkGDgCZu
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 24, 2020
“It’s disturbing,” LaFleur said. “I watched it once and I don’t even know what to think. I know I don’t know all the facts around the case, but it’s a serious — it keeps happening over, and over, and over again. It blows my mind that we’re sitting here in 2020 and we can’t treat everybody the same. I’m just at a loss for words.”
Rodgers has often been outspoken in support of his colored peers and against the continued onslaught of systemic racism.
Said the Packers’ quarterback: “There’s a systemic problem. Until the problem is fixed, this is going to be an all-too-common sighting in this country. It hits home, being not far from Green Bay. I’m not gonna comment directly on video until more facts come out, but obviously, it’s something where, as a non-police officer, I think for a lot of us the natural question is, when is lethal force necessary? That goes to a systematic problem that needs to be addressed at some point. There’s antiquated laws that are prejudicial against people of color in this state. I think the governor and the folks at the capitol need to take a hard look at some of those systems that are in place.”
Credit: Source link
