August 24 Jacob Blake protests news

By Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes, Jessie Yeung and Adam Renton, CNN

Updated 2:21 p.m. ET, January 18, 2021
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1:07 a.m. ET, August 25, 2020

Jacob Blake's uncle calls for peaceful protests: "We're going to get justice"

Justin Blake, the uncle of shooting victim Jacob Blake, has urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully.

Jacob Blake was gunned down by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday, prompting nationwide anger and protests once again against police brutality toward African Americans.

"This is like, all the black parents talk about that phone call you don't want to get. And we got it," Justin Blake told CNN on Monday. "So you have to sort of be strong for each other. Let your faith be great."

"After talking to his mother, she and my brother are asking people in Kenosha and around the nation to protest, but protest not violently," he added. "We want justice, and we're going to get justice. We're going to demand justice. But we're going to do that without tearing apart our community."

Watch:

12:46 a.m. ET, August 25, 2020

Lebron James, coaches and players speak out on the shooting as NBA playoffs tip off

From CNN's Jill Martin

LeBron James extended his condolences to Jacob Blake's family on Monday night, speaking to Turner Sports after the Lakers' win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“Having two boys of my own, and me being African American in America and to see what continues to happen with the police brutality towards my kind, continue to see what goes on ... it’s very troubling," he said.

“We play a beautiful game, which brings so many great families together and people being able to rejoice and enjoy it, but at the same time never losing track of what’s really going on in our world, especially in America."

“My prayers go to that family, and hopefully we can have some change," he added. "I believe it starts in November ... We have an opportunity to make change. But it still doesn’t stop there even with whatever comes next.”

NBA reactions: Other players and members of the NBA organization have also spoken out about the shooting, as the NBA playoffs tip off.

Speaking ahead of a playoff game against the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said the shooting was on everybody's minds.

"We need to have change, we need to be better," he said. "I'm hoping for the best for him and his family, and hoping for the best as we work through this in Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, in Kenosha ... so thoughts and prayers for Jacob Blake." 

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo spoke postgame, calling for greater action.

"People are dying. This is not OK," he said. "We have to keep doing our part until change really comes. Wearing the Black Lives Matter shirts and kneeling, there’s still more to be done. That’s great, that’s definitely a great step. But we’ve got to keep going until the job is done.”
11:45 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020

A dump truck is on fire in front of Kenosha County Courthouse 

From CNN's Bill Kirkos

A protester stands near a burning garbage truck outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, in Kenosha, Wisconsin late, on August 24.
A protester stands near a burning garbage truck outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, in Kenosha, Wisconsin late, on August 24. David Goldman/AP

Protesters have reignited one of the dump trucks that was set on fire late Sunday night in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse.

The fire has now been burning for about 30 minutes, and appears to be spreading. Thick black smoke is billowing through the air. It is now more than two hours past curfew in Kenosha, but pockets of protesters remain on the streets.

Law enforcement has used gas tonight to push the crowds east. Helicopters can be heard passing overhead.

10:55 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020

Five arrested in Minneapolis during Jacob Blake protests

From CNN’s Jennifer Henderson

Five people have been arrested in Minneapolis in relation to the Jacob Blake protests, according to Minneapolis Police.

The arrested include one woman and four men, Public Information Officer John Elder told CNN.

One was arrested for felony damage to property for damaging the 1st Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department, and four were arrested on misdemeanor charges. 

11:45 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020

Protesters remain in park across from Kenosha Courthouse after police fire tear gas

From CNN's Bill Kirkos

Police clash with protesters near the Kenosha County Courthouse, Monday, August 24, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Police clash with protesters near the Kenosha County Courthouse, Monday, August 24, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Morry Gash/AP

It's now past curfew in Kenosha, but about 100 to 150 protesters are still at the park across from the county courthouse.

About 75 police in riot gear also remain in a long line stretching one block in front of the Courthouse, protecting the front door and building facade directly across from Civic Center Park. 

About half an hour ago, tensions spiked as protesters hurled bottles at the police line, chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “F*** the police”.

Police threw tear gas into the crowd, dispersing many of the protesters. The smell of tear gas still permeates the air now.

Other fireworks are being set off every few minutes. Protesters have resumed throwing bottles, now hidden behind one of the burned-out dump trucks from last night.

All the while, an open bed SUV or pickup loaded with massive speakers plays anti-police themed music, including classics from the group NWA. 

10:24 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020

Kenosha District Attorney says he hopes federal prosecutors will pursue a civil rights investigation

Michael Graveley, the district attorney of Kenosha County, said on Monday that he hopes the US Attorney's Office and federal prosecutors would conduct a parallel investigation into the shooting of Jacob Blake. 

"The US Attorney's Office and federal prosecutors have reached out offering their assistance today," Graveley said. "It's my hope that they will do a parallel civil rights investigation so the feds, also police, and prosecute any alleged police misconduct." 

"And so I'm hoping they will do an investigation that takes place at the same time, which will allow this community to heal sooner because independent prosecuting agencies will be able to make determinations at the same time about whether any criminal charges will be produced," he added.

He added that the Attorney General's office and their prosecuting agency had also reached out to offer assistance.

2:16 p.m. ET, January 18, 2021

Protests underway after police shooting in Wisconsin

Demonstrators march through the city during a protest in New York on Monday, August 24, against the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Demonstrators march through the city during a protest in New York on Monday, August 24, against the shooting of Jacob Blake. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Protests are underway in New York after a Black man was shot multiple times in the back Sunday by Wisconsin police.

Jacob Blake, the man who was shot multiple times in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is in stable condition in an intensive care unit, his attorney Ben Crump told CNN.

Footage of the shooting has spread across social media, sparking protests and leading county officials to institute a curfew that ended Monday morning. Another curfew will be instituted from 8 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department.

Two Wisconsin police officers have been place on administrative leave as state authorities investigate the shooting.

Reporting from CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin and Amir Vera contributed to this report.

Update: Since this item posted, Jacob Blake has confirmed in interviews that he did have a knife.

Hear more:

6:25 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020

Jacob Blake still in intensive care after being shot multiple times, his attorney says

From CNN's Gisela Crespo

attorney Ben Crump
attorney Ben Crump CNN

Jacob Blake, the man who was shot multiple times in the back on Sunday by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is still in intensive care, the attorney representing him and his family told CNN Monday. 

During an interview on CNN's "The Situation Room," attorney Ben Crump said that while Blake is stable, "they cannot tell at this moment what his prognosis would be." 

Crump added Blake's children — who were in the car Blake was trying to enter when he was shot — will have to deal with the psychological issues from "seeing their father shot these many times in the back from the people who were supposed to protect and serve him." 

"We are still waiting for the facts to be confirmed but what it does tell us — whether is George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks — there is an issue with the culture and the behavior of policing in America," Crump told Blitzer. "If we don't have the systematic reform that this moment in America is crying out for, then we are going to continue to see hashtag after hashtag, protest after protest, and cities burning all across America." 

"We are now seeing it with our own eyes that there are two justice systems in America: one for Black America and one for white America, and we're fighting for equal justice for all Americans," Crump added. 

Crump said he doesn't know of additional footage of the shooting, but he has heard from people who said witnessed the incident and he's hoping to learn more.

"The family wants these police officers to be held accountable and the one who shot [Blake] — they want him terminated," he said.

6:19 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020

Wisconsin attorney general on Kenosha shooting: "We don't make the prosecution decision"

From CNN's Raja Razek

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a news conference Monday that the state's Department of Justice will not "make the prosecution decision" in the Kenosha shooting case. 

"We don't make the prosecution decision in this case. That's a decision that will be made ultimately by District Attorney [Michael] Graveley," Kaul said. "But we will be working closely with his office as additional facts and evidence are uncovered."

"We understand that there is a need for this investigation to move swiftly. And our goal is to move swiftly with this investigation," he added. "But we are only going to do so to the extent that is consistent with protecting the integrity of this investigation because it is vital that we get as full and thorough investigation as possible so we can pursue justice fully in this case."