Jacob Blake shooting: Trump to visit Kenosha

Trump will visit on Tuesday

President Donald Trump is planning to visit Kenosha, the US city where a white police officer shot a black man named Jacob Blake.

The shooting has resulted in several protests in the city with many demonstrators saying this is another example of police brutality faced by black Americans.

Jacob Blake remains in hospital where he is recovering, but his injuries mean he might not be able to walk again.

The White House says President Trump will travel to Kenosha on Tuesday 1 September where he will meet with police officers and assess the damage caused by the recent protests.

The US has seen several demonstrations over racism and police behaviour in 2020 following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in May.

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Protesters held signs up outside the Kenosha County Courthouse

What happened and what have the police said?

Jacob Blake was shot in the back by police on 23 August as he walked to a parked car and opened its door.

The Kenosha Police Department said officers had been responding to a "domestic incident".

The city's Professional Police Association said Jacob Blake fought with police officers trying to arrest him, and investigators say a knife was found on the floor of Blake's car.

After he was shot, police say they gave Mr Blake medical help at the scene.

However, Jacob Blake's uncle, Justin Blake says his nephew didn't have a weapon and 'didn't deserve to be shot'.

Family members of Jacob Blake march with supporters in Kenosha

What's happening with the protests?

Following the shooting, protests in Kenosha have continued for several days.

Around 1,000 people joined a mile-long march in the city on Saturday chanting "Black lives matter".

Some protesters are demanding that the police officers involved in the shooting are arrested.

While many demonstrations have been peaceful, some have turned violent with vehicles and buildings set on fire and fireworks being thrown at police.

Police have responded by firing smoke bombs and tear gas at protestors.

National Guard soldiers are in Kenosha to keep the peace

Authorities in the city have declared a curfew, meaning people should not be on the streets between 8pm and 7am.

A state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard, which is a part of the US Army, has been sent to Kenosha to keep the peace.

On Saturday night, Jacob Blake Sr asked protesters to remain peaceful while calling for justice for his injured son.

"Good people of this city understand. If we tear it up we have nothing," he told the crowd. "Stop it. Show them for one night we don't have to tear up nothing."

The Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers has said the shooting was wrong, and Mr Blake was "not the first black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country".

"I have said all along that although we must offer our empathy, equally important is our action. In the coming days, we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognise the racism in our state and our country for far too long," he said in a statement.

But some do not agree with what he said, Pete Deates, head of Kenosha's police union, said Mr Evers' statement was "wholly irresponsible" and said people should wait until all the facts were known.

US President Donald Trump is planning to visit Kenosha on Tuesday

What do we know about Donald Trump's visit to Kenosha?

President Donald Trump said he would visit Kenosha as part of a trip to Louisiana and Texas which have been damaged by Hurricane Laura.

His visit was later confirmed by the White House.

When asked if he thought the officer who shot Mr Blake should be charged, the president said: "Well I'm looking into it very strongly. I'll be getting reports," adding that he "didn't like the sight of it".

However, Mr Trump has made law and order one of his key election promises as he hopes to win a second term as president in November.

In his speech at the Republican National Convention he criticised protests in Kenosha and condemned other "rioting, looting, arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities".

Kenosha is in the state of Wisconsin, which was narrowly won by Donald Trump and the Republican party in the 2016 US Presidential election.