US City Guards Against Protests over Police Shooting of Black Man
2020-08-26
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Wisconsin officials are readying for more violence after two nights of unrest in the city of Kenosha.
2The unrest began after police shot a Black man in the back as his three sons watched on Sunday.
3Zach Rodriguez, a local leader, said the city might look for federal help after some 300 people set fire to buildings and attacked businesses Monday night.
4"Essentially, our city was burned to the ground, building by building," Rodriguez told Reuters news agency.
5"Enough is enough."
6Smoke rose over central Kenosha after police officers clashed with protesters near where Jacob Blake was shot.
7Police said the protesters were violating a night-time curfew.
8Blake remained in a hospital intensive care room after doctors operated on him.
9The 29-year-old would require more operations.
10Lawyer Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family, spoke to ABC News.
11Blake's father told The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper his son was unable to move any part of his body from the waist down.
12Crump said Jacob Blake had been attempting to break up a fight between two women when he was wounded.
13He was struck by four of the seven shots, all fired by one police officer, he added.
14His sons, aged 3, 5 and 8, witnessed the shooting.
15"You can only imagine the psychological problems these babies are going to have for the rest of their life," Crump said.
16Video captured by a neighbor shows Blake moving away from two officers who were pointing guns at his back.
17He walks toward the driver's side door of his sports utility vehicle.
18After he opens the door, seven shots are heard.
19One of the officers is seen pulling at Blake's shirt.
20It remains unknown what the officers may have seen inside his car.
21There was "no indication he was armed," Crump said.
22The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating the incident.
23The department has yet to release any details. Kenosha police have directed all questions to the state investigators.
24The incident is the latest in a series of cases to focus attention on police treatment of African Americans.
25The shooting took place three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota incited nationwide protests against racism and police violence.
26There was more unrest in the United States Monday night, with clashes reported in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington and Minneapolis.
27In New York City, marchers demonstrated on the Brooklyn Bridge, social media video showed.
28Portland has been the scene of weeks of often-violent protests.
29Police there once again declared a riot late on Monday and arrested several demonstrators after fires were lit at the offices of a police labor union.
30Seattle police said demonstrators set several buildings on fire, resulting in at least one arrest and one officer injured.
31Black Lives Matter activists are demanding the immediate dismissal or arrest of the Kenosha officers.
32Police officials have placed the officers on administrative leave.
33Hours into the curfew, the mostly peaceful demonstration turned violent with some protesters setting off fireworks.
34Local police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke bombs to break up the demonstration, said Porche Bennett, a protester from Kenosha.
35National guard troops reportedly provided support to the police.
36Fires destroyed much of the Black business district, Bennett said, adding that the instigators she saw were white.
37"It's people from out of town doing this. We've been shopping there since we were kids and they set it on fire," Bennett said.
38Social media images showed both whites and Blacks causing the unrest.
39Black men swinging baseball bats broke traffic signals and streetlights.
40White and Black men attacked a row of cars.
41Heavily armed white civilians stood guard in front of businesses.
42At least one man was injured, shown on social media bleeding from the head, as civilians offered aid.
43I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1Wisconsin officials are readying for more violence after two nights of unrest in the city of Kenosha. The unrest began after police shot a Black man in the back as his three sons watched on Sunday. 2Zach Rodriguez, a local leader, said the city might look for federal help after some 300 people set fire to buildings and attacked businesses Monday night. 3"Essentially, our city was burned to the ground, building by building," Rodriguez told Reuters news agency. "Enough is enough." 4Smoke rose over central Kenosha after police officers clashed with protesters near where Jacob Blake was shot. Police said the protesters were violating a night-time curfew. 5Blake remained in a hospital intensive care room after doctors operated on him. The 29-year-old would require more operations. Lawyer Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family, spoke to ABC News. Blake's father told The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper his son was unable to move any part of his body from the waist down. 6Crump said Jacob Blake had been attempting to break up a fight between two women when he was wounded. He was struck by four of the seven shots, all fired by one police officer, he added. His sons, aged 3, 5 and 8, witnessed the shooting. 7"You can only imagine the psychological problems these babies are going to have for the rest of their life," Crump said. 8Video captured by a neighbor shows Blake moving away from two officers who were pointing guns at his back. He walks toward the driver's side door of his sports utility vehicle. After he opens the door, seven shots are heard. One of the officers is seen pulling at Blake's shirt. It remains unknown what the officers may have seen inside his car. 9There was "no indication he was armed," Crump said. 10The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating the incident. The department has yet to release any details. Kenosha police have directed all questions to the state investigators. 11The incident is the latest in a series of cases to focus attention on police treatment of African Americans. 12The shooting took place three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota incited nationwide protests against racism and police violence. 13Unrest in other US cities 14There was more unrest in the United States Monday night, with clashes reported in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington and Minneapolis. In New York City, marchers demonstrated on the Brooklyn Bridge, social media video showed. 15Portland has been the scene of weeks of often-violent protests. Police there once again declared a riot late on Monday and arrested several demonstrators after fires were lit at the offices of a police labor union. 16Seattle police said demonstrators set several buildings on fire, resulting in at least one arrest and one officer injured. 17Black Lives Matter activists are demanding the immediate dismissal or arrest of the Kenosha officers. Police officials have placed the officers on administrative leave. 18Hours into the curfew, the mostly peaceful demonstration turned violent with some protesters setting off fireworks. 19Local police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke bombs to break up the demonstration, said Porche Bennett, a protester from Kenosha. National guard troops reportedly provided support to the police. Fires destroyed much of the Black business district, Bennett said, adding that the instigators she saw were white. 20"It's people from out of town doing this. We've been shopping there since we were kids and they set it on fire," Bennett said. 21Social media images showed both whites and Blacks causing the unrest. Black men swinging baseball bats broke traffic signals and streetlights. White and Black men attacked a row of cars. 22Heavily armed white civilians stood guard in front of businesses. At least one man was injured, shown on social media bleeding from the head, as civilians offered aid. 23I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 24Stephen Maturen reported on this story for Reuters news agency. George Grow adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 25________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27arsonist - n. someone who sets illegally fires to buildings and other things 28shirt - n. a piece of clothing worn on the upper body 29indication - n. sign 30focus - n. the center of interest or activity 31scene - n. the place where an incident takes place 32district - n. an area of a city of country; neighborhood 33shopping - n. the activity of purchasing goods from stores 34We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.