LULAC Calls For Immediate Investigation In Kenosha, Wisconsin Shooting

Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Shooting of Jacob Blake Appears Unjustified and Excessive

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today issued the following statement in the shooting Sunday evening of a 29-year old black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Witnesses say he was trying to get into his van where his children, ages 3, 5 and 8 years old were already passengers. The man suffered seven gunshots to his back at close range. The Wisconsin National Guard has now been called out to quell civil unrest sparked by the shooting.

Domingo Garcia
LULAC National President
“LULAC calls for an immediate and full investigation into the shooting of Jacob Blake which the nation and the world is seeing in disbelief replayed on the internet today. No reasonable person can accept a police department’s actions of shooting an unarmed man in the back repeatedly as he is getting into his vehicle while his family looks on in horror. The shooting shown in the video that’s been released on social media appears to be unjustified and unfortunately, another tragic incident of excessive use of deadly force against black and brown men shot by police with little regard for human lives.”

Sindy Benavides
LULAC National Chief Executive Officer
“We applaud Governor Evers action of calling a special session on policing accountability and transparency. We expect a full and independent investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and pray for Jacob Blake’s children and family. We ask for full justice for Jacob and demand full accountability from the police department on what transpired. Too many Black lives have been taken, we need reforms to policing now.”

Lupe Martinez
LULAC Wisconsin State Director
“Although all details are not clear at this time, what is clear, based on the available video, is that another Black man was shot in the back by police officers. This must stop! LULAC stands with our Black brothers and sisters in a call for an immediate investigation in Kenosha and an immediate halt, nation-wide, to the senseless shootings by police officers. We stand in Unity with Black Lives Matter."

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/