Milwaukee Black Lives Matter protesters were shot at while Marching through Pennsylvania to Washington D.C.
What We Know:
- Milwaukee-based Black Lives Matter protesters began marching from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Washington D.C on Aug. 4th. On Monday night, they were shot at as they passed through Pennsylvania.
- The incident happened in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and was captured in a livestream by Milwaukee activist Frank “Nitty” Sensabaugh. Gunshots can be heard and a man holding a gun can be seen in the video. After shots were fired, a protester can be heard yelling, “we’re leaving, you don’t have to get violent”.
- According to authorities in a press release, one protester was struck when the gunfire was exchanged. Tuesday afternoon, authorities held a press conference and reporters asked if any of the protesters had weapons on them. Capt. Jamie Clark, the commanding officer investigating the incident, said two firearms were recovered at the scene but cannot confirm which parties the guns belong to.
- “We’re trying to determine if there was anyone in that group that exchanged gunfire,” Clark said referring to the protesters. One protester who witnessed it all, Sandy Soloman, said in an interview that she did not see any protesters with firearms.
- Authorities have not released the name of the man who was injured but some of the marchers referred to the man as “Cino”. The injured protester was released from Conemaugh Hospital in Johnstown, Pennsylvania after he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
- The Heritage Affairs Section will be assisting with the investigations since they’re a special unit that deals with bias and hate crimes. Authorities said that this doesn’t mean the case will be labeled as a hate crime but they are simply helping state police with the investigation.
- As for the march, Soloman did say it is on hold while they figure out if they will return to Kenosha, a city that has had large protests recently after Kenosha Police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down.
The marchers are expected to be in Washington D.C. on Friday, which marks the 57th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington. Rev. Al Sharpton has also planned a march on Washington that is expected to draw a lot of supporters.
