'It's time for a change': Jacob Blake's family returns to Kenosha for large rally, march
KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Hundreds came together Saturday, Aug. 29, to march with the family of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
The Blake family returned to the city after attending the March on Washington in the nation’s capital on Friday, Aug. 28.
Voices in the air…
“No justice! No peace!”
And feet on the ground…
“Black lives matter, Black lives matter.”
A sea of supporters marched through the streets to Civic Park, right outside the county courthouse.
Afterward speakers, like Blake’s father, encouraged solidarity.
“And I want you to look at your fist. When your fist is clinched, it’s a mighty weapon," Jacob Blake, Sr. said.
To Congresswoman Gwen Moore this moment is a reminder of equal protection to citizens under the United States Constitution.
“It was written to stop police from killing Black men! That was the purpose of the 14th amendment and all we want is for America to live up to her ideals," Moore said.
For many Kenosha residents, this moment was powerful.
“I’ve never seen this many people come together before," Lexi Olivares said.
“It’s time for a change," Rasheeda Robinson said. "We need to listen to each other. Just because you can’t relate to my struggle, I can’t relate to yours, it doesn’t mean that it’s less real."
Many of the speakers also urged people to take their power to the polls.
Resident John Siniawski believes that those who don’t support this unity – just don’t get it.
“I think it’s a lack of critical thinking. We just don’t think and we just don’t see. We live in our own little time warps and we don’t get what we need to give," he said.
As of now, Kenosha’s 7 p.m. curfew is still in effect through Sunday.