US: Governor asks Trump not to travel to Kenosha

Status: 6:12 am | Reading time: 4 minutes

reThe Governor of the US state of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, called on President Donald Trump to cancel his visit to the protest-plagued city of Kenosha. “I am concerned that their presence only hinders our healing,” Evers wrote in a letter published Monday night. He also feared that a visit would require that resources be diverted from Trump that would be necessary to ensure the safety of the population.

A week ago in Kenosha, a police officer shot 29-year-old black American Jacob Blake seven times in the back. Video of the incident shows Blake approaching a car in front of him, while two police officers follow him with guns in hand. When Blake opens the driver’s door and leans in, one of the cops grabs his shirt and shoots. The video sparked a lot of outrage in the United States.

Protests broke out in Kenosha after the shooting, which included violence with buildings and cars burning for two nights in a row. On the third night, a 17-year-old who tried to patrol the streets as an armed civilian shot dead two people and wounded another. The shots were videotaped by eyewitnesses. The 17-year-old has been accused of two murders, his lawyer speaks of legitimate defense.

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In recent days, Trump had emphasized that order must be quickly restored in the city. Over the weekend, the White House announced that the president would fly to Kenosha on Tuesday. He wanted to meet with security authorities and get an idea of ​​the damage after the violent protests, a spokesman said. A Blakes lawyer said on CBS that his family had not yet received an interview with Trump.

Democrats blame Trump for violence in Portland

Democrats have blamed Donald Trump for the tensions and incitement to violence in the city of Portland, Oregon. “Are you seriously wondering, Mr. President, why is this the first time in decades America has seen this level of violence?” Asked Portland Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler at a news conference. “It is you who created hatred and division.”

In the city, which is currently marked by protests and riots, the weekend violence fatally escalated. In clashes between Trump supporters and “Black Lives Matter” protesters, a man was shot and killed on Saturday night. In the city center, protesters clashed with some 600 vehicles owned by Trump supporters and skirmishes broke out. Soon after, the fatal shots were fired. The dead man was a supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, as the group’s founder said. It was unclear if and how the events were connected.

After the death of African American George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May, Portland has become a hotbed of unrest across the United States. Protests there often ended in looting and violence, and hundreds of protesters have been arrested.

Trump commented on what was happening in the city through tweets and retweets Sunday, including a video with supporters of him in cars with “Great Patriots!” Trump also commented on tweets blaming Mayor Wheeler for the man’s death.

Trump wanted to support his election campaign, he said from the ranks of the Democrats. “He may think the war on our streets is good for his re-election, but that’s not presidential leadership, not even basic human compassion,” said Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, referring to the Portland shots. He “clearly” condemns the violence from all sides. Trump, on the other hand, “ruthlessly encourages” violence, accused Biden of his rival.

Over the summer, Trump has repeatedly painted a picture of democratically ruled cities, in which violence and lawlessness are supposed to prevail, although most protests against racist violence and inequality have been peaceful. The Portland mayor called Trump an “idle Democrat, crazy radical leftist” on Twitter. Wheeler verbally replied, Trump should support or “get out of the way.”