Jacob Blake’s uncle says in an op-ed that the Capitol attack is another reminder that the US lives under 2 legal systems

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“One has armed white insurgents violently attacking our country’s seat of government. Another guest hits and fires rubber bullets at people defending Black Lives,” he wrote in an op-ed for The Guardian.
Last week – and a day before the riots in the nation’s capital – Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced that the officer who shot Jacob Blake, Rusten Sheskey, would not press charges. Graveley said that at the time, Blake “actively resisted” and armed himself with a knife. CNN has contacted the prosecutor for comment on the op-ed.

“This justice system calls these people ‘protesters’, and they are protected by the First Amendment,” Justin Blake wrote of the rioters. “Sheskey operates under this legal system, and it is unacceptable. He claimed self-defense after shooting Jacob in the back, in front of his children, including in broad daylight. There is no plausible explanation for this escalated response.”

Kenosha activists say they are hurt and disappointed after decision not to charge Jacob Blake shooting

“The fact that the Capitol uprising and the shooting of Jacob both took place in broad daylight shows just how blatant state-sanctioned violence has become,” he added.

Sheskey’s lawyer previously told CNN that the officer used lethal force not only to defend his life, but because he feared that while attempting to flee, Blake was trying to kidnap a child in the backseat of the vehicle at the scene. .

Attorney Brendan Matthews, the attorney for Sheskey and the Kenosha Professional Police Organization, said in an email to CNN that he respects Justin Blake’s ability to speak his mind.

“Personally, I wish he had exhausted his energy and media platform in a productive way that aims to improve, not widen America’s racial divide,” he wrote.

The attorney’s decision last week, Justin Blake wrote, “makes it crystal clear to black people in Kenosha and Wisconsin that we are not safe in our communities.”

Kenosha reflects nation's divisions over race and police after officer who shot Jacob Blake will not be charged

If the justice system valued Black’s lives, Justin Blake wrote, Sheskey would be fired and the Kenosha Police Chief and the Kenosha County Sheriff would resign.

Sheriff David Beth and Graveley declined to comment.

Although his name is not referenced to him, the op-ed links to an article about Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old charged with murder for the deaths of two men, after authorities claim he shot protesters during protests against Jacob Blake. .

Armed groups, Justin Blake writes, “Threatening our community would be treated like the violent terror groups that they are, and the authorities would protect us from them. Kenosha police would use the # 8cantwait platform, which included the- requires escalation and extensive reporting to prevent future police shootings. “

Body cameras would be implemented, he wrote, and documents related to his cousin’s shooting investigation would be released to the public.

“Jacob would receive justice,” he wrote. ‘But we’re not there yet. That’s why we get up. Jacob deserves better than this. Kenosha deserves better than this. ‘

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