The National Guard was called in to quell fiery riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin — as protesters defied a curfew to loot and destroy a mostly black business area they are supposedly trying to defend following the police shooting of a local black man.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers summoned 125 members of the National Guard Monday after protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear Sunday after the shooting of Jacob Blake.
But that and a dusk-to-dawn curfew did not stop the city from exploding once again on Monday night — with blazes set near the scene of Blake’s shooting as protesters clashed with law enforcement in riot gear.
Videos on social media showed some protesters using baseball bats to systematically smash a line of parked cars. Another clip showed a man calmly lighting a fuse to torch an already smashed-up garbage truck as explosions went off around him.
The riots infuriated many locals who said the protesters were destroying the lives of black business owners and families.
Several black neighbors were seen angrily screaming at some of the rioters who torched a building that collapsed, saying “it ain’t black lives matter” when they destroy the neighborhood, according to a clip recorded by Brendan Gutenschwager.
The fires, which destroyed much of the city’s black business district, were mostly set by white protesters, local resident Porche Bennett, 31, told Reuters.
“It’s people from out of town doing this. We’ve been shopping there since we were kids and they set it on fire,” Bennett said.
Commercial and government buildings were set ablaze, along with vehicles in car dealership lots.
Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd, which grew to several hundred, Bennett said.
The chaos comes as Blake, 29, remains hospitalized after being shot several times in the back by an officer trying to stop him from getting into his car Sunday afternoon.
Blake’s family earlier Monday had urged protesters to refrain from violence.
“We will not excuse the actions of the Kenosha Police department, but his mother asks everyone to please remain peaceful,” tweeted Blake’s cousin, Pauly.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost...testers-wreck-largely-black-neighborhood/amp/
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers summoned 125 members of the National Guard Monday after protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear Sunday after the shooting of Jacob Blake.
But that and a dusk-to-dawn curfew did not stop the city from exploding once again on Monday night — with blazes set near the scene of Blake’s shooting as protesters clashed with law enforcement in riot gear.
Videos on social media showed some protesters using baseball bats to systematically smash a line of parked cars. Another clip showed a man calmly lighting a fuse to torch an already smashed-up garbage truck as explosions went off around him.
The riots infuriated many locals who said the protesters were destroying the lives of black business owners and families.
Several black neighbors were seen angrily screaming at some of the rioters who torched a building that collapsed, saying “it ain’t black lives matter” when they destroy the neighborhood, according to a clip recorded by Brendan Gutenschwager.
The fires, which destroyed much of the city’s black business district, were mostly set by white protesters, local resident Porche Bennett, 31, told Reuters.
“It’s people from out of town doing this. We’ve been shopping there since we were kids and they set it on fire,” Bennett said.
Commercial and government buildings were set ablaze, along with vehicles in car dealership lots.
Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd, which grew to several hundred, Bennett said.
The chaos comes as Blake, 29, remains hospitalized after being shot several times in the back by an officer trying to stop him from getting into his car Sunday afternoon.
Blake’s family earlier Monday had urged protesters to refrain from violence.
“We will not excuse the actions of the Kenosha Police department, but his mother asks everyone to please remain peaceful,” tweeted Blake’s cousin, Pauly.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost...testers-wreck-largely-black-neighborhood/amp/
