Armed citizens who said they supported the protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake walked around protecting businesses Monday night.
Reporters who traveled to the city of roughly 100,000 residents posted video of a group of people holding rifles and wearing helmets and other protective gear as rioters vandalized and looted businesses.
“We’re trying to stop them from hurting their own community,” said one man who covered his face.
Town Hall reporter Julio Rosas (formerly of the Washington Examiner), who was at the scene, said the armed men stopped rioters from attacking a car dealership.
This is the moment I mentioned earlier. These armed citizens said they support the protests but not the riots because people are hurting their own community.
Later on, as a car dealership was under attack by rioters, one of the armed men stepped in and stopped it. pic.twitter.com/uSqprPXkSW
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 25, 2020
The men declined to identify themselves, instead asking to be called “armed citizens.” They also denied being affiliated with any militia. One acknowledged he served in the Army at one point.
Another video shared by the Daily Caller showed the armed citizens being yelled at by protesters.
“I’m on your side as long as you’re against the cops. But you can’t burn down your local businesses,” one of the armed citizens shouted back.
A group of guys in #Kenosha armed with guns are protecting a local business from rioters:
“We’re out here trying to protect residents, we’re trying to protect the innocent people and we’re trying to protect the businesses of the citizens out here…” pic.twitter.com/KWfw7wCoGR
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 25, 2020
A curfew was set for 8 p.m. in Kenosha, and members of the Wisconsin National Guard were deployed to assist local law enforcement with the protests. Businesses and cars were lit on fire in places across the city, and first responders were tasked with putting them out as well as responding to reports of vandalism and looting.
Protests first broke out Sunday evening after a viral video showed a black man, believed to be the 29-year-old Blake, being shot multiple times by Kenosha police in a neighborhood as he tried to get into a car. His three children were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, his family said. Blake remains in critical condition.
The shooting is under investigation by state authorities, and two officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.
