Southern Poverty Law Center denounces lack of justice in Jacob Blake case

KENOSHA, Wis. –Earlier today, Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced that the police officers responsible for shooting Jacob Blake in the back will not face criminal charges. Two officers fired seven shots at Blake in August as he walked away from police and the shooting was captured on video.

Blake was left paralyzed and the incident drew international condemnation. 

The following is a statement from Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“The shooting of Jacob Blake was an unwarranted act of police violence that shocked and horrified millions. And yet authorities have determined these two officers did nothing wrong.

“Jacob Blake was shot in the back. If we can’t find anything wrong with that, then our criminal justice system must be overhauled. Thankfully, Mr. Blake was not killed. But this continues a disturbing pattern of Black people being violently assaulted by police. This pattern of anti-Black racism has led to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many others and has galvanized a movement for Black lives across the country.

“We need to do more than condemn the violence; we need the killing to stop. Congress, state legislatures and local governments must heed the call and act now to end police violence.”