Charity Burned in Kenosha Expresses ‘Anger and Disgust with Governor Tony Evers’
The Danish Brotherhood Lodge 14, a charitable society that was set on fire by rioters on Monday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, told Breitbart News on Tuesday that people have “anger and disgust” for the state’s Democrat governor, Tony Evers, and “his overwhelming absence amidst the riots.”
“The current political climate is one of anger and disgust with Governor Tony Evers and his overwhelming absence amidst the riots only to emerge long enough to provoke tensions,” said a Danish Brotherhood Lodge spokesperson to Breitbart News.
“Even the most ardent Democrats I know have disavowed him,” the spokesperson added.
The lodge also reacted to a video published to social media on Tuesday, which appears to show Black Lives Matter (BLM) rioters attacking a man as he tried to defend the charitable association with a fire extinguisher.
“Rioters left the downtown area and proceeded westbound on 60th street smashing windows, looting, and burning businesses along the way,” said the lodge spokesperson.
“At the intersection of 63rd St and 22nd Ave rioters broke the windows of the Danish Brotherhood’s adjoining tenant a mattress shop,” he added. “Rioters then set the shop on fire. When the fire ignited they were confronted by the mattress shop employee, a friend to the store owner, and a fellow brotherhood member Robert Cobb. He was then assaulted on video.”
Watch below:
Looters assault an older business owner trying to defend his business in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 24, 2020. pic.twitter.com/LdlLnOpvfJ
— After Action Report (@after_theaction) August 25, 2020
“He received a broken jaw, head wound, and a tooth was knocked out. As of today he is stable following surgery. He was reportedly at the site of the stores remains this morning,” said the lodge spokesperson of Cobb’s injuries.
“As the windows of the brotherhood front doors were smashed, rioters then were able to gain entry and began looting,” the spokesperson continued, adding that “evident smoke” was visible on its security camera footage.
“I proceeded to the lodge to find it engulfed in flames,” said the spokesperson. “The surrounding area was a chaotic scene of reckless drivers and people.”
The spokesperson added that “the weight of the building and the exterior walls are supported by exposed trusses on the roof.”
“When the trusses gave way the upper floors collapsed causing the exterior walls to explode outward,” the spokesperson explained.
The Danish Brotherhood Lodge also shared an additional statement with Breitbart News:
The Danish Brotherhood is heartbroken and devastated by the unanticipated loss of our Lodge. The outpouring of support and messages from our family, friends, and the community has not gone unnoticed. Our membership is greatly appreciative.
Chief amongst our concerns at the moment is the expedient recovery of our Brother Robert Cobb. Robert was viciously assaulted while trying to defend our friend and tenant’s mattress shop as well as the Lodge last night. We ask the community to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he recuperates.
The Danish Brotherhood has weathered many storms in our 127 year history and we will strive to keep up that fervent resolve. The Board in discussions had thus far, favors striving to move forward and keep the spirit of our organization alive.
The irreparable damage done to our building pales in comparison to the loss of the heritage and history contained within. Though we can never replace the memories, photos, and records. We will cherish the remembrances of the aforementioned articles and enthusiastically look forward to producing new ones.
We hope the community can come together as a whole and heal itself despite the chaos that has been unfolding around us. Lodge #14 will endeavor to rebuild despite all of the challenges we have faced this year and we hope that others impacted by the recent violence will be able to do the same.
Riots continued Tuesday night, with two killed and one wounded in shootings.
President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that Evers had accepted the White House’s offer of additional National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officers:
…TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2020
However, Evers had declined a similar offer the day before.
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Law Enforcement Requested 750 National Guard Members in Kenosha Tuesday, Gov. Evers Sent 250
Authorities in Kenosha, Wisconsin, requested 750 National Guard members to assist in quelling the unrest in the city, but Gov. Tony Evers (D) rejected the White House’s offer to assist with the request and only provided 250 members, as the night descended into chaos, leaving two dead and one more wounded.
The Democrat governor declared a state of emergency Tuesday, following two nights of civil unrest. While he increased Wisconsin National Guard support from 125 to 250, local authorities told the White House that they needed at least 750 in anticipation of Tuesday night’s protests.
According to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows’ advisor Ben Williamson, Evers declined the White House’s offer to provide 500 guards needed to fill the gap, and the violence reached an entirely different level, leaving two dead and one wounded as a result of last night’s protests.
“The president was on the phone with the governor today as well,” Meadows said during a Tuesday appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight.
“We have National Guard standing by that, if the general for the National Guard needs additional help, we’re there to do it. But today, that request was denied by the governor,” he said.
On Wednesday, Evers authorized 500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard to aid local law enforcement in anticipation of escalating violence:
.@GovEvers has now authorized 500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard to support police in Kenosha tonight. No mention in his press release of the federal law enforcement the president said are also coming to Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/35rg1CAB8e
— Shawn Johnson (@SJohnsonWPR) August 26, 2020
In a Tuesday statement, prior to the night’s deadly protests, Evers appeared to stand in solidarity with the demonstrators, but acknowledged the “line between peaceful assembly and what we saw last night that put individuals, families, and businesses in danger.”
“Tonight, and in the days ahead, if you are going to protest, please do so peacefully and safely. Please do not allow the actions of a few distract us from the work we must do together to demand justice, equity, and accountability,” he pleaded as part of a greater Twitter thread:
We are assessing the damage to state property and will be increasing the presence of the Wisconsin National Guard to ensure individuals can exercise their right safely, protect state buildings and critical infrastructure, and support first responders and fire fighters.
We cannot forget the reason why these protests began, and what we have seen play out over the last two nights and many nights this year is the pain, anguish, and exhaustion of being Black in our state and country.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 25, 2020
We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 25, 2020
Tonight, and in the days ahead, if you are going to protest, please do so peacefully and safely. Please do not allow the actions of a few distract us from the work we must do together to demand justice, equity, and accountability.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 25, 2020
Donald Trump Sending Federal Law Enforcement to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Help Quell Riots
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers had finally accepted his offer to send federal forces to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to stop violent riots.
“TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Trump said his White House team spoke with Evers on Wednesday.
“We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “My team just got off the phone with Governor Evers who agreed to accept federal assistance.”
Evers announced Wednesday afternoon that he would increase the deployment of National Guard troops to 500 after he deployed 250 troops on Tuesday evening.
It is unclear whether the president is sending additional federal law enforcement, such as agents from the Department of Homeland Security, to Wisconsin to help quell the riots or just additional National Guard troops.
Evers turned down an offer of federal law enforcement assistance from the White House on Tuesday before two people were shot and killed and one person was shot and injured.
“We have a National Guard standing by that if the general for the National Guard needs additional help, we’re there to do it,” Meadows said in an interview Tuesday on Fox News. “But today, that request was denied by the governor.”
…TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2020
A white, 17-year-old police admirer has been arrested in the killing of two people during a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake
17-year-old arrested in killing of 2 people in KenoshaBy MIKE HOUSEHOLDER and SCOTT BAUERAssociated PressThe Associated PressKENOSHA, Wis.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday in the killing of two people gunned down during a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake.
Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, was taken into custody in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha.
Two people were shot to death Tuesday night in an attack carried out by a young white man who was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle.
“I just killed somebody,” the gunman could be heard saying at one point during the rampage that erupted just before midnight.
In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized 500 members of the National Guard to support local law enforcement around Kenosha, doubling the number of troops sent in. The governor’s office said he is working with other states to bring in additional National Guard troops and law officers. Authorities also announced a 7 p.m. curfew.
“A senseless tragedy like this cannot happen again,” the governor, a Democrat, said in a statement. “I again ask those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights please do so peacefully and safely, as so many did last night. I also ask the individuals who are not there to exercise those rights to please stay home and let local first responders, law enforcement and members of the Wisconsin National Guard do their jobs.”
One victim was shot in the head and the other in the chest, Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A third person suffered gunshot wounds not believed to be life-threatening.
“We were all chanting ‘Black lives matter’ at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `‘That’s not fireworks,’” 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. “And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, ‘He shot someone! He shot someone!’ And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again.”
Scott said he cradled a lifeless victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but “I don’t think he made it.”
According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the young man responsible for the shootings walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people.
Rittenhouse, identified in court papers as a lifeguard at a YMCA in Lindenhurst, Illinois, was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing Friday on handing him over to Wisconsin authorities. The public defender’s office had no comment.
Much of Rittenhouse’s Facebook page is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle.
Other photographs include those of badges of various law enforcement agencies, including the Chicago Police Department. All of the badges have a black line across them — something police officers do with black tape or other material whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty.
In a photograph posted by his mother, he is wearing what appears to be a blue law enforcement uniform as well as the kind of brimmed hat that state troopers wear.
The sheriff told the Journal Sentinel that armed people had been patrolling Kenosha’s streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them.
“They’re a militia,” Beth said. “They’re like a vigilante group.”
The FBI said it is assisting in the case.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is Black, said in an interview with the news program “Democracy Now!” that the shootings were not surprising and that white militias have been ignored for too long.
“How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks it’s OK?” Barnes said. “People treat that like it’s some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles.”
Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages: The gunman first shot someone at a car lot, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him.
A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled, “two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him.”
“The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired,” Rosas said.
Sam Dirks, 22, from Milwaukee, said he had seen the suspected gunman earlier in the evening, and he was yelling at some of the protesters.
“He was definitely very agitated. He was pacing around, just pointing his gun in general. Not necessarily at anyone specifically,” Dirks said.
In other widely circulating video, police can be seen tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle to what appear to be armed civilians walking the streets. One of the civilians appears to be the gunman who later shot protesters.
“We appreciate you being here,” an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker.
In Wisconsin, it is legal for people 18 and over to openly carry a gun, with no license required.
Blake, 29, was shot, apparently in the back, on Sunday as he leaned into his SUV, three of his children seated inside. Kenosha police have said little about what happened other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. They have not said whether Blake was armed, and they have not disclosed the race of three officers on the scene.
On Tuesday, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blake’s family, said it would “take a miracle” for Blake to walk again. He called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and for the others involved to lose their jobs.
The shooting was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests in the U.S. three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a nationwide reckoning over racial injustice.
During the unrest in Kenosha since then, protesters destroyed dozens of buildings, set fires and hurled objects at police, who responded with tear gas on three straight nights.
___
Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press reporters Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin, Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee, Jeff Baenen and Amy Forliti in Minneapolis, Don Babwin in Chicago and Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, contributed, as did news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York.
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