Protests after Black man shot in the back by police

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By Isaac Newton Tetteh – GITFIConline.com

Protests has erupted in Kenosha in the US state of Wisconsin after police shot an apparently unarmed Black man multiple times in the back, prompting authorities to impose a curfew.

The shooting occurred at about 5pm (22:00 GMT) as officers were responding to what they called a “domestic incident”. The victim was immediately taken to a hospital by the police, according to a Kenosha police department statement.

No further explanation was given by the police as to what led to the shooting, in which one officer fired seven rounds into the man’s back. The Wisconsin Department of Justice said the officers involved had been placed on administrative leave.

The incident on Sunday was likely to add to continuing outrage and protests in the US and abroad against police brutality and racism since the death on May 25 of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

The victim in Kenosha, identified by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers as Jacob Blake, was hospitalized in serious condition.

A video circulating on social media and cited by the US media showed a man walking towards a car followed by two officers and one of them shoots him as he opens the car door.

Soon afterwards, multiple fires were set at the scene by a crowd that gathered to protest the incident.

Evers, in a tweet, said Blake had been “shot in the back multiple times in broad daylight”.

“We stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites,” said Mr. Evers added.

Source:  ALJAZERA.COM