Near the end of the Saturday Kenosha rally, one man introduced as "the president", swayed from the message
KENOSHA – A peaceful march and rally took place in Kenosha on Saturday asking for justice for Jacob Blake, who was shot on Sunday.
Most of the speakers talked about justice peacefully. But near the end of the rally, one man introduced as "our president" strayed from the message by saying, “If you kill one of us, it’s time for us to kill one of yours.”
The man, who was not able to be immediately identified, said:
“I love being black. I love black people. I know some of you may not want to say that … You tell us how to behave when you have taken our lives. The black man is worth something. His life is worth something. I have to say god damn it – if you kill one of us, it’s time for us to kill one of yours. I know everybody don’t want to hear that. But damn why are we the ones who have to keep burying ours and got to keep clean for you to see us as being human? We ain't never did nothing to nobody.”
Earlier speakers were more focused on social justice and not physical revenge.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes spoke earlier and had a positive message, “I see resilience. I see hope and strength.”
Unfortunately, he said, we are still dealing with the same challenges we dealt with decades ago.
“I say no,” Barnes said. “Justice should be guaranteed to everyone in this country.”
He cited the mission of the Kenosha Police Department that is posted on its website. It states: “The mission of the Kenosha Police Department is to serve all people with respect, fairness and compassion.”
“We are not asking for much, Barnes said. “We are just asking them to live up to their word. That is not too much to ask.”
Similarly, Jacob Blake Sr., Jacob Blake’s father, stood up and spoke passionately for his son.
“There were seven bullets put in my son’s back,” Blake said. “Hell yeah. I’m mad.”
But when you get angry you lose control of your nature, he said. “My nature is to protect my son, to stand up for my son when he cannot stand up, to ask the police in this town what gave them the right to attempted murder of my child? What gave them the right to think that my son was an animal?”
He said when he was in the hospital with his son, his son grabbed his hand.
“He said daddy, daddy I love you,” Blake said. “Then my baby said, ’Why did they shoot me so many times?’ I said, ‘Baby they weren’t supposed to shoot you at all.’”
He continued by saying, “I know there are a lot of parents out there in this crowd. You cannot imagine what it feels like to look at your baby paralyzed from the waist down, shackled.”
He has since had the handcuffs taken off, but he was shacked to his bed until bail was paid on a past case.
Blake continued, “We suffered and still suffer because there are two justices systems.”
He said there is one for the white boy who walked down the streets and killed two people referring to Kyle Rittenhouse, accused of killing two people on Tuesday night during protests near Kenosha’s downtown. Then, he said, there is another system for his son, Jacob Blake, who was shackled to a bed after police shot at him seven times.
“That justice system doesn’t work out well for us,” Blake said.
IN PHOTOS: 'Justice for Jacob' march and demonstration
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes speaks during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Family, friends and supporters hold up a fist during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Aug. 29. Local nonprofit organizations and churches are banding together Wednesday for a day of healing and support of the Blake family, which is being held amid a scheduled appearance by evangelical activist Sean Feucht.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Nearly 2,000 people walk with the family of Jacob Blake during a march and demonstration on Saturday.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Nearly 2,000 people walk with the family of Jacob Blake during a march and demonstration on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Tim Mahone speaks during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Left: Jacob Blake Sr., the father of Jacob Blake, speaks during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturday.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Family, friends and supporters listen during speeches in front of the courthouse during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturday.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Demonstrators sing as they stage on 52nd Street before a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturda..
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Left: A group holding Pan-African flags walk to the courthouse during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturday.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Left: Jacob Blake Sr., the father of Jacob Blake, speaks during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturday.
MARCH FOR BLAKE
Left: Jacob Blake Sr., the father of Jacob Blake, speaks during a march and demonstration for Jacob Blake on Saturday.
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