Teen Held in Wis. Shooting, NBA Walkout: Protest Wrap

Kenosha has seen protests and sporadic violence since a Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot multiple times at close range by police.

Bloomberg News

27 Aug 2020, 11:36 AM IST

Teen Held in Wis. Shooting, NBA Walkout: Protest Wrap

Volunteers from Street Corner Resources stand while protesters, not pictured, shout slogans during the painting of a ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural along Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- A 17-year-old was arrested Wednesday after two people were fatally shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during violent clashes between protesters, armed counter-protesters and police.

Cities nationwide saw protests Wednesday night, days after another Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot seven times in the back by police in Kenosha. Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed, announced a curfew following unrest after false rumors spread about the suicide of a homicide suspect.

In his Republican National Convention keynote speech, Vice President Mike Pence called for an end to violence in Kenosha and other cities, saying such violence heralds America’s end. Pence didn’t mention Jacob Blake by name.

“The hard truth is, you won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” Pence said in Baltimore. “We will always stand with those who stand on the thin blue line, and we’re not going to defund the police. Not now. Not ever.”

Professional athletes led by the NBA boycotted their games Wednesday night amid players’ ire over Blake’s shooting and protesters’ deaths specifically and inaction on racial justice issues generally.

Suspect in custody

Kyle Rittenhouse was taken into custody near his home in Antioch, Illinois, on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, the Associated Press reported. Much of Rittenhouse’s Facebook page is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle.

On Wednesday night, the state Department of Justice identified a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha police force, Rusten Sheskey, as the officer who shot Blake, the AP reported. Sheskey shot Blake, 29, while holding onto his shirt after officers first unsuccessfully used a taser and as Blake leaned into his vehicle during an incident Sunday evening, according to the agency’s news release. State agents later recovered a knife from the driver’s side floorboard of the vehicle, the release said.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would send more federal law enforcement personnel and the National Guard to quell the protests. Soon after, Wisconsin’s Democratic governor, Tony Evers, doubled the number of National Guard members available to support Kenosha law enforcement. The governor authorized 500 Guard troops to help protect critical infrastructure and maintain the peace. Kenosha County declared a state of emergency curfew for 7 p.m.

Trump’s campaign has distanced itself from Rittenhouse, after reports that he attended a Trump rally in January. “President Trump has repeatedly and consistently condemned all forms of violence and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness,” campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said. “This individual had nothing to do with our campaign and we fully support our fantastic law enforcement for their swift action in this case.”

Sports boycotts

A boycott over the Blake shooting that started in the NBA spread to Major League Baseball. NBA players also declined to play, kneeling on court in protest, while at least one Major League Soccer game was called off.

“We stand in solidarity with our brothers in the NBA,” Atlanta Dream center Elizabeth Williams said in a televised statement, “and we’ll continue this conversation with our brothers and sisters across all leagues and will look to take collective action.” The Dream are part owned by Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler, who is facing an election this year and has criticized the league’s support for Black Lives Matter.

The growing protests threaten to disrupt sports leagues’ efforts to play their coronavirus-disrupted seasons. The NBA will hold a special Board of Governors meeting Thursday morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Major League Baseball signaled their league would continue playing, scheduling make-up games for Thursday for those postponed Wednesday night.

Kenny Smith, a commentator and 10-year veteran of the NBA, walked off the TNT set in solidarity with the players. “As a Black man, as a former player, I think it’s best for me to support the players and just not be here tonight,” he said.

Key developments:

See the latest from Bloomberg QuickTake:

Wisconsin attorney general outlines probe:

U.S. spends more on tear gas:

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, faulted Democrats for taking the Black vote for granted. He said the GOP won’t “turn a blind eye” to bad acts but also won’t stand for an “assault on western civilization.”

With assistance from Bloomberg