Schakowsky Statement on Senseless Shooting of Jacob Blake

EVANSTON, IL – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Senior Chief Deputy Whip, today issued the following statement after the recent shooting of Jacob Blake:

"Another unarmed black man in the United States was shot in the back, this time 7 times, in front of his three young children. This time the man shot was Jacob Blake, born and raised in Evanston, my hometown and the heart of my Congressional district.

"Jacob Blake belongs to Evanston. He played basketball and football at Evanston Township. The Blake family has been a part of our community for nearly 100 years. His grandfather of the same name was a pastor at Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston and led civil rights actions in our community. Earlier this week, I joined his family and over 200 supporters for a gathering and march that started from the senior housing facility named for his grandfather, the Jacob Blake Manor.

"Unarmed Black men, and women, continue to die or get injured by police. After George Floyd, after Breonna Taylor, after Atatiana Jefferson, after Stephon Clark, after Philando Castile, and after all the protests in streets throughout Chicago, across the country, and now in Kenosha, these incidents are still happening. Every level of our policing system, from the new cadets to the union presidents, must be held responsible until these incidents of excessive and deadly force come to an end.

"In the wake of this shooting, people have justifiably taken to the streets to protest this gross injustice. Sadly, two of those protestors have been killed by an armed 17-year boy with ties militia groups who had shown off his guns on his Tik Tok account in recent weeks. Even more infuriating, videos circulating on social media show police coddling armed militia members on the street, offering them water and thanking them, while peppering protestors with rubber bullets and tear gas.

"Lastly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell must bring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act for a vote in the Senate. Jacob's parents are demanding its passage, and I vowed to them to keep fighting to see that happen. The House passed the bill on June 25, and the Senate has yet to act on this important legislation. We stand with Jacob Blake and his family in this difficult time."

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