President Trump said that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers accepted his offer Wednesday to send federal law enforcement officers to help quell civil unrest in Kenosha.
“We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets. My team just got off the phone with Governor Evers who agreed to accept federal assistance (Portland should do the same!),” Trump tweeted Wednesday.
“TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!” he continued.
…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
Evers turned down assistance from the federal government earlier this week, according to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
“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 Tuesday night on Fox News. “But today, that request was denied by the governor.”
Evers’s office also said earlier this week that federal assistance wouldn’t be needed, as Evers increased support from the Wisconsin National Guard.
“The governor informed them that we would be increasing Wisconsin National Guard support in Kenosha and therefore would not need federal assistance in response to protests but would welcome additional federal support and resources for our state’s response to COVID-19,” spokeswoman Britt Cudaback said.
On Tuesday night, rioting continued in the city of Kenosha, sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday evening.
The violence on Tuesday ultimately killed two people in the city and injured at least one other.
Blake is reportedly paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by police officers when he reached into an SUV during an arrest.
