The Police Shooting of Jacob Blake: What Happened and What You Can Do

Learn more, demand justice, practice self-care, register to vote.

What Happened to Jacob Blake?

In Kenosha, Wisconsin, a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black father, seven times in the back while attempting to arrest him. Blake was shot as he opened the driver’s side door of his vehicle, with his three children inside. Multiple witnesses captured now-viral videos of the event, which have galvanized outcry and action nationwide.

Blake was transported to a hospital in Milwaukee, where he’s still being treated for severe injuries. According to his family, Blake is paralyzed from the waist down and will likely never be able to walk again.

The official police account of the incident still leaves a lot of details unclear -- including why officers were arresting Blake in the first place.

“Don’t be sorry, because this has been happening to my family for a long time, longer than I can account for. It happened to Emmett Till. Emmett Till is my family. It happened to Philando, Mike Brown, Sandra... I don’t want your pity. I want change.” - Blake’s sister, Letetra Widman

What About the Shooting at the Protests?

Yet another community has been thrown into outrage, grief, frustration, and fear by the trauma of police violence. Kenosha residents have been protesting every night since Blake’s shooting, demanding that the officers responsible be held accountable. Though mostly peaceful, at times the protests have become destructive, spurring the deployment of federal officers and National Guard members to Kenosha. On the fourth and most recent night of protest, the demonstrations were largely nonviolent, but arrests in unmarked vehicles by unidentified agents still occurred, similar to those in Portland.

Tuesday was one of the most chaotic nights of protest in Kenosha, with confrontations between law enforcement, protesters, and armed counter protesters. These self-proclaimed militia members carried semi-automatic rifles and tasked themselves with “protecting” buildings and property around the city.

At one point in the evening, a person opened fire on protesters, killing two and injuring another. Seventeen-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who is white, has since been arrested and charged with homicide in connection with the shootings. Rittenhouse came to Kenosha from Antioch, Illinois and seemed to be a part of the unofficial civilian militia.

What Has the Response Been?

Protests for Jacob Blake are happening across the country, including in New York, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. These are in addition to the protests that have been continuing following the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery.

Prominent folks around the country are echoing protesters’ calls for justice, including several professional athletes. The Milwaukee Bucks refused to play their playoff game on Wednesday in protest, and the NBA has since postponed three other playoff games. Athletes from the WNBA, MLB, and MLS are also pausing their play, and tennis star Naomi Osaka announced that she would not be competing in the Western & Southern Open semifinals.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. Possibly as a result of the national outcry, the Justice Department announced that they’re launching a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers also announced a special legislative session on August 31 for state lawmakers to address police accountability and transparency.

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What Can I Do?

Practice self-care. Experiencing discrimination or seeing it on the news can present serious mental health challenges. Check out our guide on coping with discrimination, as well as Shine’s BIPOC mental health guide. To connect with a crisis counselor for 24/7 support, text DS to 741741.
Demand justice. Sign this petition demanding the officers be brought to justice. You can also text JAKE to 55156 to learn how to contact officials in Kenosha elsewhere in Wisconsin to demand that the officers involved be brought to justice. Podcast host Ankita Verm, has also gathered officials’ contact info. When you call, say your name and why you demand the officers be fired and charged.
Push for further action. Sign this petition urging Wisconsin lawmakers to invest in real solutions to end police violence during their special legislative session. Then, sign this one telling Facebook to stop fueling white nationalist hate groups that embolden the kind of violence that Kyle Rittenhouse committed.
Register to vote. 73% of young people say voting is one of the most meaningful ways that you can impact causes like racial justice and its intersecting issues, including education, healthcare, criminal justice, and more. Take 2 minutes to register to vote now.
Disrupt racism in your community. Use our step-by-step guides to start a conversation with friends and family about how to actively be anti-racist and disrupt racism in your communities.