The father of black man Jacob Blake, who was shot dead by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, refused to "do politics with my son's life" when President Donald Trump later visited the city.
Jacob Blake Sr.'s son was paralyzed’ after
being shot by an officer and it is unclear if he will be able to walk again.
Firing has sparked violent protests in
Kenosha and other US cities.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump will meet with
officials at protest sites in Kenosha.
Prior to the trip, President Trump told a
news conference he would not meet with Mr. Blake's family because he wanted
lawyers to be present.
Mr. Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr., told
CNN that his son's life was more important than meeting President Trump.
"I'm not getting into politics. It's
all about my son. It has nothing to do with photos," he said.
Local officials have urged Mr. Trump not
to visit Kenosha, fearing that his presence in the city could revive peaceful
protests that have calmed down in recent days.
But Mr. Trump has rejected his pleas,
accusing Democratic mayors and governors of failing to deal with the violence.
President Trump has made law and order a key part of his bid to win a second
term in office on November 3.
Large-scale protests against racism and
police brutality have erupted in Minneapolis, Minnesota this year over the
death in police custody of another black man, George Floyd, in May.
What did Blake's father say?
"It's not politics. It's about my
son's life," Mr. Blake Sr. told CNN about Mr. Trump's trip to Kenosha.
Mr. Blake Sr. said his son was still
paralyzed’ from the waist down, "holding on dear life".
Her 29-year-old son was shot’ several
times in the back by a police officer as he entered a car where his three
children were sitting.
Mr. Blake Sr. said: "We're dealing
with a guy who was hanging out with guys a few weeks ago and was talking to me
on the phone and laughing at a guy who was moving his leg. Couldn't give.
"
The officer involved in the August 23
shooting, identified as Rusten Sheskey, has been placed’ on administrative
leave while an investigation is under way.
Mr. Blake Sr. said he had received
"some threats" since his son's shooting.
Asked how his family was coping, Mr. Blake
Sr. said he had to take his second son, 20, to hospital because he was
depressed.
The father did not elaborate, but added:
"It's a pity I don't understand how people are pressuring this
family."
Why is Trump's visit to Kenosha
controversial?
Local leaders have objected to Mr. Trump's
visit, fearing it could escalate tensions.
State Governor Democrat Tony Evers has
urged Mr. Trump to reconsider, warning that his presence would be an
"obstacle to our treatment" and argued that the town's citizens are
already shocked. Are suffering from
"I, along with other community
leaders who have reached out, are concerned about what your presence will mean
for Kinshasa and our state," Mr. Evers wrote in a letter to Mr. Trump.
The White House said the president is
expected’ to visit law enforcement and "property affected by the recent
riots."
Mr. Trump has also backed a teenage
supporter accused of shooting two young men during Mr. Blake's shooting
protests in Kenosha last week.
He told the teenager that 17-year-old Kill
Rittenhouse was working in his defense, telling reporters: "I think he was
in big trouble, maybe he would have been killed."
What happened in Portland?
Portland, Oregon, has been a hotbed of
protests since Mr. Floyd's death, and police have regularly confronted
left-wing protesters for the past three months.
According to the Associated Press,
right-wing activist Aaron "Jay" Danielson, 39, was shot dead in the
city on Saturday night as he was seen guarding a convoy of Trump supporters.
Was in the Associated Press reports.
Clashes have been reported’ between Trump
supporters and Black Leaves Meter protesters.
The founder of the right-wing group,
Patriot Prairie, identified Mr. Danielson as a supporter.
Mr. Trump tweeted: "Relax, Jay!"
Media reports say a self-proclaimed
anti-fascist is investigating Saturday's deadly shooting.
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