'Looking for leadership:' Ailing Kenosha on edge as President Trump's visit looms amid tensions

KENOSHA, Wis. - Some residents in Kenosha fear a planned visit by President Donald Trump after unrest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake may stir more emotions and cause more violence and destruction in the divided southeastern Wisconsin city after several days of peace.

Others, though, welcome the president's trip, scheduled for Tuesday, when he will tour damage and meet with law enforcement. His visit comes as demonstrators are calling for the officer who shot Blake to be fired and face attempted murder charges, and more than a week after authorities say a 17-year-old from northern Illinois shot and killed two protesters.

The tension began Aug. 23 after a video showed a Kenosha police officer shooting Blake, a Black man, in the back while responding to a call about a domestic dispute. All last week, Black Lives Matter protesters held events to call for changes to policing, and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called a special session of the Legislature for Monday to take up a host of police reform measures. But Republicans don’t plan to take immediate action.

Volunteers and businesses on Sunday worked to clean up from fires and vandalism that destroyed buildings and prompted surviving restaurants, grocery stores, and barbershops to board up.

Kenosha police said Sunday that they had arrested 175 people since the protests began in the bedroom community between Chicago and Milwaukee. Of those, 102 were from outside Kenosha, including 44 different cities. Many arrests were for curfew violations, and included possible charges for burglary, possession of illegal drugs and carrying concealed weapons without a permit, officials said. More than 20 firearms had been seized.

Family members say Blake, 29, is paralyzed, and a lawyer said most of his colon and small intestines were removed. His family led a large peaceful protest Saturday, just before Trump announced his plans to visit. On Sunday, Evers sent Trump a letter urging him not to come, saying the visit “will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.”

But Kenosha County Board supervisors also wrote to Trump, urging him not to cancel.

“Kenoshans are hurting and looking for leadership, and your leadership in this time of crisis is greatly appreciated by those devastated by the violence in Kenosha,” the letter from seven supervisors said.

Trump showed no signs of backing down, tweeting about the unrest in Kenosha and saying, " I will see you on Tuesday!”

Diana Kreye, a 60-year-old resident of nearby Brighton, said Trump is exploiting the conflict.

“I don’t like that this has all become political,” said Kreye, an undecided voter. “Let the city heal. Now is not the time for a photo op.”

Angel Tirado, 42, however, thinks Trump’s visit could help. “I hope he says something that can calm us all down,” said Tirado. “Maybe he’ll bring us together.”

Others doubt the president had any intention of closing divisions and pointed to his recent tweets and history of making racist comments.

“He’s not coming down here to heal,” said David Sanchez, 66, a retiree and Kenosha resident who expects thousands of people to show up to protest Trump. “He’s coming to Kenosha to start more trouble. I don’t care what he says.”

“He has done nothing over the last three years to bring people together,” said Raymond Roberts, 38, a data scientist and Afghanistan War veteran. “This is a bellwether county in a bellwether state. It’s all about his reelection.”

Trump has throughout the summer sought to cast U.S. cities as under siege by violence and lawlessness, despite the fact that most of the demonstrations against racial injustice have been peaceful.

Still, Trump is likely to find some support in a county he won in 2016 by fewer than 250 votes.

On Sunday, a group of about 100 police supporters gathered downtown for a “back the blue” rally. That was a fraction of the size of a Saturday protest against police violence that attracted about 1,000 people.

Also Sunday, some Trump supporters walked by burned buildings and shouted that the Black Lives Matter movement was a “terrorist organization.”

Oscar Escobar, 41, a Kenosha resident who owns a moving company and co-owns a bar and grill, said he doesn’t align with either Democrats or Republicans. He said it’s good that Trump plans to visit.

“I think it’s a great thing for him to show that he cares about what’s happening here in Kenosha and not turning his back on us and just leaving us alone,” Escobar said.

During the president's White House news conference Monday afternoon, he said he spoke with the Blake family's pastor, adding, "I thought it would be better not to do anything with their lawyers involved. They wanted me to speak but they wanted to have lawyers involved.  And I thought that was inappropriate so I didn’t do that."

Benjamin Crump, attorney for Blake's family, responded in a statement Monday night:

Statement from Kenosha mayor on Pres. Trump's visit

Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian announced "there is sufficient law enforcement support in advance of President Trump’s visit, which is anticipated for Tuesday, Sept. 1."

 “With the local, regional and national law enforcement support currently in our city, I’m confident we have sufficient resources and aid to manage the president’s visit tomorrow and keep people safe,” said Mayor John Antaramian, in a statement Monday evening. “Our city has already experienced so much devastation. It’s my top priority to work collaboratively with law enforcement and take advantage of the additional support available to put necessary protocols in place to mitigate further damage and violence in our great city.”

The mayor's statement noted the Kenosha Police Department "is working with local, state, federal agencies and the Secret Service to prepare for President Trump’s visit. Specific details of the visit are not available at this time."

“Kenosha has hosted presidential visits in the past and we stand ready and prepared for President Trump’s visit tomorrow,” said Chief Daniel Miskinis, Kenosha Police Department, in the mayor's news release. “We have sufficient local and national support to manage the events of tomorrow.”

The Wisconsin National Guard has more than 1,000 individuals stationed in the city and more than 500 out-of-state guard members from Arizona, Alabama and Michigan available to provide aid as directed by law enforcement in Kenosha.

“Our mission doesn’t change with the presidential visit tomorrow,'' said Major General Paul Knapp, Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs in the mayor's statement. “We are here to provide support to local law enforcement and help ensure safety in the city of Kenosha .”

The City of Kenosha’s 7 p.m. curfew will remain in effect through Wednesday, Sept. 2. at 7 a.m. Beginning the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 2, the curfew hours will take effect at 9 p.m. and will remain through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7 at 7 a.m. or until further notice.

Kenosha Area Transit will adapt service hours to 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Tuesday, Sept. 1. Riders should expect the last bus to depart downtown at 3:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Kenosha Area Transit has adjusted its service hours Wednesday, Sept. 2 through Friday, Sept. 4 from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the latest buses departing downtown at 7 p.m. Service hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5. City buses do not operate on Sundays or Labor Day. Any questions about the temporary suspension can be directed to the dispatch office prior to 5 p.m. by calling 262-653-4287.

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