Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, was recently shot seven times by Kenosha police on Sunday. He arrived at the hospital in critical condition and is unfortunately paralyzed from the waist down as of late. Jacob Blake Sr., his father, says they don’t know if this injury is permanent.
What We Know:
- According to CNN, Blake’s attorneys stated on Tuesday that it would be a miracle if he ever walked again at this point. They went on to explain that the seven bullet wounds devastated his spinal cord and shattered several vertebrae. The gunshots also caused damage to his stomach, kidneys, and liver.
Confirmed: Jacob Blake currently paralyzed from the waist down. Praying it’s not permanent. #JusticeForJacobBlake
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 25, 2020
- Ben Crump, the family’s attorney, appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America Tuesday morning to talk about Blake’s condition. Blake is in stable condition but remains in the ICU. His father gave an update saying he is currently undergoing surgeries as of Tuesday afternoon.
- Crump also added that Blake’s three children, who were present during the shooting, were “absolutely devastated” by what happened. His family claimed he was shot for breaking up a fight in the neighborhood. When referring to the incident, Blake Sr. called it a “senseless attempted murder”.
- On the other hand, it was Blake’s mother, Julia Jackson, who ended up making a larger and more impactful call for collective healing among people of all colors.
“I am really asking and encouraging everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts,” she said. “Please let’s begin to pray for healing for our nation. We are the United States. Have we been united?”
- Letetra Widman, Blake’s sister, made it clear that so many people reached out with condolences, but it didn’t faze her. “Well don’t be sorry, because this has been happening to my family for a long time. It happened to Emmett Till. Emmett Till is my family. Philandro. Mike Brown. Sandra,” she added.
- Blake’s family and attorneys all spoke in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse, which happened to be the focus of the second night of protests in the area. Blake’s mother assured that he wouldn’t approve of the ongoing unrest in Kenosha.
- As it stands now, the attorneys plan to file a considerable civil rights lawsuit against the city for multiple reasons, one of which will include payment for the years of Blake’s medical treatment.
One of the more impactful remarks the family stated as a whole was that Blake, who grew up in Evanston, moved to Kenosha for a “fresh start”.
