The Sunday shooting of Jacob Blake has revealed a population in Kenosha, Wisconsin that is willing to defend looting and arson as a legitimate means for achieving political ends.
Social media platforms exploded overnight with footage of angry activists burning small businesses to the ground, assaulting innocent shop owners, and defending the chaos.
Rioters took to the streets after Mr. Blake, 29, was shot during a police call involving a domestic incident.
Online video of the shooting posted Sunday shows Mr. Blake walking around a vehicle as yelling cops — weapons drawn — appear to be giving him lawful orders. He is shot multiple times after opening the car’s driver-side door and reaching inside.
“It’s unfortunate, but it has to be done,” said local Wayne Gardner of the destruction, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
“We tryin’ to protect ourselves,” a woman outside a looted storefront says in a video posted by After Action Report on Twitter. “You don’t understand what terrifies these black men out here! They not making it home to their family’s.”
The woman’s comments came moments after the store’s owner was assaulted from behind.
Another video published by The Blaze’s Elijah Riot shows a woman berating an armed man who deterred looters outside a gas station.
“I’m all for protests,” the armed man said. “But you can’t be destroying your neighbor’s houses and businesses.”
“B—h, you not for protesting if you don’t give a f—!” the woman exclaimed, seemingly linking support for looting and arson with support of Black Lives Matter.
“This s—,” she continued. “The value of property has nothing to do with the value of life. … You not wit [sic] us! You not wit [sic] us! F— you!”
A video also by Jorge Venture Media of The Daily Caller shows a young man with a gun saying, “If the police come be blowing at they a—.”
Mr. Blake is currently recovering from his wounds at a local hospital.
Warning: Strong Language.
Civilian militia did a better job protecting private property in Kenosha than the police/national guard
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) August 25, 2020
It’s amazing what surrounding a small business w/ a few good men strapped w/ powerful weapons can do to maintain peace@VenturaReport is on the groundpic.twitter.com/TxQbX6UNt4
Looters assault an older business owner trying to defend his business in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 24, 2020. pic.twitter.com/LdlLnOpvfJ
— After Action Report (@after_theaction) August 25, 2020
“Justice for Jacob and if the police come we blowing at they a**” #Kenosha pic.twitter.com/IOtHTzEEw9
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) August 25, 2020
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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