The family of Jacob Blake, the man attacked from behind by a police officer, asked President Donald Trump on Tuesday for
a "unification message"
during his visit to Kenosha, which the president made despite warnings that it could inflame the racial tensions, which were
described by the president as "internal terrorism
.
"
"These are not acts of peaceful protest, but internal terrorism," Trump said after taking a tour of the city where he met with people whose businesses were affected by the violence.
The president pledged $ 4 million for reconstruction, plus $ 1 million for police and $ 42 million to "support state security" for Wisconsin.
[Identity of police officer who shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times in Wisconsin revealed]
Trump stood firm in his position of defending police work and harshly criticizing protests that ended in violence,
but said nothing about an officer's point-blank attack on Jacob Blake
, who was paralyzed from the waist down after receiving seven shots in the back.
"The police are brave people who are fighting for people they don't even know, we have to be thankful," Trump said.
"I feel safe thanks to the police and we must condemn the dangerous anti-police rhetoric," he added.
Earlier, the family of Jacob Blake asked Trump for
a "unification message" and that he "not justify the shooting and violence by the militias",
which have attacked protesters demanding justice for police brutality.
"We have nothing to say (to Trump), just keep his insults away from our family,
we want a president who unifies the country
and takes us in another direction," said Justin Blake, Jacob's uncle.
"He is free to go wherever he wants," he replied about Trump's visit to Kenosha, and that he is not considering a family reunion at the moment.
Celebration for unity
Blake's relatives decided to hold a celebratory gathering in Kenosha at the same time as Trump's criticized visit to the city, which has been criticized by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.
The event called by Blake's family and the same organizations that led a massive march through the city last Saturday, invites the Kenosha community to gather at the place where Blake was shot in the back by a police officer.
In addition to demanding justice for Blake, the meeting aims to bring the community together in a peaceful environment where there will be street cleaning, food delivery, support for local businesses and even a registration point will be set up to participate in the next presidential election.
[Kenosha: two shootings, two opposite realities marked by racism]
Blake's uncle, Justin Blake, called on protesters to stop the violence.
"Do not act with violence, do not destroy our communities. We understand your discontent, we know why you are outraged, but that fist must be raised not out of anger but because of changes that allow our children to go out and play in the streets without worrying about the police or get shot in the back seven times, "he said.
The atmosphere, the organizers hope, will contrast with the image of fear and insecurity that it has installed in part due to the acts of violence generated in some protests, as well as some statements by Trump, who last week requested the presence of the National Guard to calm tension.
[Biden accuses Trump of fomenting violence: "He failed to protect America and now he wants to scare it"]
On the contrary, Trump affirmed before starting his visit that if it weren't for his decision to call in the National Guard, chaos would reign.
"If I hadn't insisted on activating (the troops) and sending them to Kenosha, there would be no Kenosha right now," he wrote on Twitter.
"Also, there would have been more deaths and injuries," he added.
Despite boasting for having avoided more victims, the president on Monday defended one of the perpetrators of two deaths during the protests in Kenosha.
Trump refused to convict 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who is charged with two counts of murder after firing an assault rifle at protesters while patrolling the city with a group of armed militiamen.
Kyle Rittenhouse, accused of double murder, will remain in Illinois detention
Aug. 28, 202000: 34
Trump's presence was questioned by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.
"I am concerned that their presence only hinders our healing," he wrote in a letter to the president.
"I am concerned that their presence will only delay our work to overcome the divide and move forward together," he added.
Evers, who agreed with Trump to deploy the National Guard troops, asked the president not to come to the city for fear that his presence would incite violent groups.
[Man is shot dead in Portland on night of confrontation between Black Lives Matter activists and Trump supporters]
Before getting on the plane to start his trip to Kenosha, Trump said he did not rule out meeting with Blake's relatives, despite the fact that such a meeting is not on the agenda.
The president previously said he had ruled it out because the family requested the presence of an attorney, according to NBC News, something the family has denied.
In contrast, the president has not hidden his electoral objective with the visit, saying that he hopes that it "increases the enthusiasm" in Wisconsin, one of the most contested states in the presidential race.
The city has been under a wave of tension and violence since last August 23, when a police officer shot Jacob Blake in the back at point-blank range, an incident that adds to others of police brutality that occurred this year, such as the deaths of George Floyd. and Breonna Taylor.