Kenosha preparing for protests when charging decision comes on Jacob Blake's shooting

[January 04, 2021]  (Reuters) - The city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is making preparations for demonstrations when a charging decision comes over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, authorities said on Sunday.

Kenosha saw civil unrest and large demonstrations against racism and police brutality in August after police shot Blake, an African-American man, who was left paralyzed from the waist down.

The decision is likely to come within the first two weeks of January, Mayor John Antaramian and Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said in a statement.

Efforts from authorities will include designating a demonstration space, limiting city bus routes, imposing curfews, and closing off roads and other areas, according to the statement https://bit.ly/38czVYI.

"Mayor Antaramian has been informed that the decision is likely to be announced within the first two weeks of January and is working with Chief Miskins and other partners to protect peaceful demonstration and to guard against unlawful activity", authorities said on Sunday.

Blake was shot several times in the back and the incident, which was caught on video, sparked days of protests.

A Kenosha Police officer monitors outside a burnt out building in Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. August 31, 2020. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo

Two protesters were fatally shot during the unrest, with teenager Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois, being charged in connection with the shootings.

Blake's shooting came about three months after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Floyd's death sparked anti-racism protests across the United States and the rest of the world.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Chopra)

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