Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers isn't sure if it's a good idea for Donald Trump to visit Kenosha during ongoing protests sparked after last week's police shooting of Jacob Blake. He sent a letter to the White House over the weekend, asking the president to reconsider his Kenosha visit.
Evers, who has never been a supporter of Trump, urged him to not visit Kenosha due to ongoing protest against police brutality that has transformed into fierce riots. In his letter, the Democratic mayor wrote that he and other community leaders were concerned about what Trump's presence will mean for Kenosha and the already troubled state.
Further in his letter, Evers said Trump's presence will only hinder the state's healing process. He also noted that Trump's presence will delay the state's efforts to overcome division and move ahead together. The letter was obtained by The Associated Press.
The president had decided to visit Kenosha to check the damage caused by riots. Businesses and some buildings have been vandalized, and several cars were burned during the protest. White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump will meet the law enforcement officers during his visit.
In his reply to Evers, Deere noted that the White House has been receiving several invites from individuals from Kenosha to visit the city and spearhead the city using his leadership to support local law enforcement and businesses that have been destroyed. Deere said that the president is looking forward to visiting on Tuesday and helping the city rebuild and heal.
The demonstrations in Kenosha, which later spread to bigger cities across the United States, started earlier this week after Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was fired seven times and got shot 4 times on Aug. 23, allegedly, by Kenosha police Officer Rusten Sheskey. Footage of the incident shows Sheskey shooting at Blake, who is trying to reach into his car, where Wisconsin officials later claimed a knife was found.
Blake has been paralyzed from the waist down after the shooting. Trump said he was waiting to get the reports during an interview in New Hampshire Friday, adding that he will be looking into it very strongly. Trump said it was not a good sight, noting that most people would agree with that.
Triggered by the shooting of Jacob Blake, the demonstrations and riots have claimed two lives, including a 17-year-old man, Kyle Rittenhouse. He is accused of using an AR-15-style rifle to fatally shoot two men.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has also raised concerns regarding Trump's visit, citing his earlier remarks to suggest he can't be helpful. Barnes said Trump's visit is unnecessary in an interview with CNN.