Aug. 24, 2020 4:35p
(WGTD)--- A press conference aimed at uniting the City of Kenosha after a night of unrest was met with hostilities. The start of the event was pushed back some 40 minutes as a group of individuals attempted to storm the safety building downtown. The meeting was finally moved to a secure location. Govenor Tony Evers and Lt. Gov Mandela Barnes did not attend the press conference. Here are some highlights:
KENOSHA IN TURMOIL - PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE TEXT BLOG: (August 24th, 2020)
- Protesters are now storming the safety building
KENOSHA IN TURMOIL - PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE TEXT BLOG: (August 24th, 2020)
- Officials are speaking inside the safety building but the location of the press conference has had to move again as protesters are storming the safety building.
KENOSHA IN TURMOIL - PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE TEXT BLOG: (August 24th, 2020) John Antaramian - Mayor of Kenosha
- “This is a good community” As he said that, protesters broke through the doors of the safety building.
- “We will be able to move past this at a certain point of time.” “I have faith in the system.”
- "Jacob will have his day in court; I believe that justice will occur."
- Question to Mayor: Do police have body cameras? - Answer: “It is slated for 2022.”
- “We are only as strong as our weakest neighbor.”
- "The only way this community and country survives is if people listen. Right now, it seems we are unable to do that. “
KENOSHA IN TURMOIL - PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE TEXT BLOG: (August 24th, 2020) Jim Kreuser - Kenosha County Executive
- During Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser’s speech, Police exited the Safety building to control the crowds. Kreuser says the shooting of Jacob Blake is “Nothing short of tragic” and that “We do not know all the details yet.”
KENOSHA IN TURMOIL - PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE TEXT BLOG: (August 24th, 2020) Michael Gravely - Kenosha District Attorney
- “Healing has not been able to begin.” “By statute the KPD has asked for the DCI to be the investigating agency. “They are a completely independent agency.” “The Materials gathered are given to the District Attorney’s office”
- “The U.S. Attorneys office is also launching an investigation. We hope that the investigation is parallel.”
- “We are going to try and do this as quickly as we can. “These kinds of huge decisions are not decisions that can be made in haste.”
- “I have received thousands of emails today.”
- “What we cannot condone is violence and the destruction of property.”
KENOSHA IN TURMOIL - PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE TEXT BLOG: (August 24th, 2020) Josh Kaul - Wisconsin Attorney General
- "In this case, the Wisconsin Department of Justice has been brought in. Our role is to be an independent agency."
- "We are going to thoroughly and vigorously investigate this case. Our pursuit of justice will be unwavering. We will work closely with Mike Gravely’s office."
- Question: Was Mr. Blake armed? - Answer - “Not going to comment on details of the case”
- Question: How many officers are involved? - Answer- “We have a protocol to protect the investigation, it will be released in the day ahead.”