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Marchers make way from Kenosha to Milwaukee in name of Jacob Blake

Posted at 5:59 PM, Oct 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-21 12:22:53-04

MILWAUKEE — A march from Kenosha to Milwaukee arrived at Red Arrow Park Tuesday afternoon. The Jacob Blake “Rally for Justice” began just after midnight in Kenosha and the marchers wound their way through the streets of southeastern Wisconsin more than 30 miles to downtown Milwaukee nearly 18 hours later.

Organizers hope the energy from the march will carry voters to the ballot boxes this month, as early voting gets underway in Wisconsin.

Tanya McClean, Executive Director of Leaders of Kenosha led the group on the march. She says “we’re going to continue fighting for Jacob and all the families that have lost love ones to police brutality.”

Jacob Blake’s uncle says the support for his nephew is appreciated. “These people walked 38 miles baby, that’s commitment for justice for little Jake,” said Justin Blake.

He says the family is demanding Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Shesky be fired, indicted, and convicted. Shesky shot Jacob 7 times in the back in August leaving Blake paralyzed.

The elder Blake says the family is going to be asking local elected officials to make a pledge.

“We’re going to ask you to sign a document to tell us where you stand on the shooting that you saw and the whole world saw. So that people can vote consciously about where you stand on systemic racism” said Blake.

Justin Blake says his nephew remains paralyzed from the waist down in an Illinois rehabilitation center, working on his upper body strength. The investigation into the shooting has been handed over to an independent consultant. It’s unclear if any of the officers involved will be charged.

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