Kenosha unrest
In the aftermath of the August 2020 police shooting of Jacob Blake, protests, riots, and civil unrest occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and around the United States as part of the larger United States racial unrest and Black Lives Matter movements. In addition to street protests, marches, and demonstrations, the shooting also led to the 2020 American athlete boycotts.
| Kenosha unrest | |
|---|---|
| Part of the United States racial unrest and reactions to the shooting of Jacob Blake | |
Justice for Jacob Blake Poster | |
| Date | August 23 – September 1, 2020 (1 week and 2 days) |
| Location | Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| Caused by | Shooting of Jacob Blake |
| Methods |
|
| Status | State of emergency August 25 – September 2, 2020; and January 4–11, 2021 |
| Aftermath | |
| Death(s) | Two protesters shot and killed |
| Injuries |
|
| Charged |
|
| Property damage | $2 million to city-owned property Up to $50 million (Kenosha Area Business Alliance estimate) |
The demonstrations were marked by daily peaceful protesting followed by confrontations with law enforcement and rioting and arson at night. A state of emergency was declared on August 23, and the National Guard was activated the following day. Further confrontations arose when armed militia members, whom Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth described as "like a group of vigilantes", arrived with the expressed intent of protecting businesses in the city.
Two protesters were fatally shot and a third was injured on August 25, 2020, by Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois. At a jury trial in November 2021, he argued that he had acted in self-defense and was found not guilty of murder and other charges.