According to a White House report, President Donald Trump plans to visit Kenosha, Wisconsin, Tuesday to meet with law enforcement and examine the damage from a week of unrest in the city.
The president plans to meet with representatives of the security forces and monitor the damage caused throughout these last days of protests, per White House spokeswoman, Kayleigh McEnany.
“[The president] condemns violence in all its forms,” stated McEnany.
The last week has been nothing short of a heartbreak for the city. Trumps visit comes a week following the shooting and paralyzation of 29-year-old Jacob Blake. The shooting by officers has lead to protesting in the city and riots. However, also has the rioting lead to the deaths of two protesters at the hands of 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse. He has currently been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and six additional criminal counts.
On Sunday, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers sent a letter to Trump urging him to “reconsider” the visit. He said the past week has been “particularly difficult” and the community across the state is dealing with “extraordinary pain.”
Evers said Kenosha is “exhausted and heartbroken with the division that has torn her community apart,” but is also working to rebuild.
“I, along with other community leaders who have reached out, am concerned about what his presence will mean for Kenosha and our state,” The Democratic governor said in the letter. “I am concerned that their presence only hinders our recovery. I am concerned that their presence only delays our work to overcome the divide and move forward together.”
“Now is not the time for division,” added Evers.
Reports that the president stated on Monday that there are currently no plans to meet with Blake’s family. He added that Blake’s attorney would have to be present before any meeting could be established.
Blake’s attorney, Ben Crump and co-counsels released the following statement on Trump not wanting to meet with Blake Family:
“President Trump reached out to the pastor of Jacob Blake’s mother, Julia Jackson, to arrange a phone conversation with her. He appropriately referred the White House to the legal team, but, as President Trump acknowledged during his televised briefing, he declined to have a call if Ms. Jackson’s legal team monitored the call. The family’s primary objectives are to support Jacob’s recovery and to ensure justice for him. If the call had occurred, Ms. Jackson was prepared to ask President Trump to watch the video of Mr. Blake’s shooting and to do what she has asked all of America to do — examine your heart.”
