Cardi B, T.I., 50 Cent, And Others React To Kenosha Police Shooting Jacob Blake
Numerous members of the hip-hop community have taken to social media to demand answers after the horrific video of Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old Black man who was shot by Wisconsin police, surfaced online.
On Sunday (Aug. 23), Blake was reportedly shot seven times in the back by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, prompting national outrage. The 29-year-old had allegedly stepped in to help de-escalate an altercation between two women at the time of the incident.
In a graphic video circulated on social media, Blake, who was unarmed, is seen walking away from a group of police officers toward an SUV. One of the officers follows him with a gun pointing at his back. Blake opens the driver’s side door and appears to try to get into the vehicle when the officer grabs him by the back of his shirt, pulling him back, and then shoots him at close range. Several shots can be heard, followed by a car horn. Blake’s three sons were reportedly inside of the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
A number of rap’s luminaries took to social media to express their shock, outrage, and frustration at yet another case of racial injustice.
“Wow this is SICKENING!” Cardi B captioned a video of the shooting on Instagram. I can’t believe it! What’s going to be the excuse now? They just don’t give a f**k no more! SOMETHING MUST HAPPEN! Yooo, this is insane they really not giving a f**k anymore. Lord please!”
Similarly, 50 Cent expressed his disbelief at the callousness of the officers.
“No way. What the f**k kinda law enforcement is this? Shot this man 7 times in his back, in front of his kids,” he tweeted out on Monday (Aug. 24). In a follow-up message, Fif retweeted Gov. Tony Evers’ statement regarding the situation and called for the police shooting to be investigated as “attempted murder.”
“7 shots in the back,” the New York rap icon reiterated. “SMH [and] in front of his kids.”
Taking to Instagram, T.I. sent his support to Blake and his family while wishing for the 29-year-old’s recovery. “Get well soon King,” he wrote. “We witchu [100].”
Blake was transported to a local hospital in Milwaukee in serious condition. His father, also named Jacob Blake, has since shared that his son is paralyzed from the waist down after undergoing surgery. Doctors aren’t sure if he is permanently paralyzed.
His announcement coincided with the news that the Kenosha police officers involved in the police shooting of Jacob Blake have been placed on administrative leave amid an internal probe.
Other celebrities have taken to social media to express their contempt. Check out what Common, Leslie Odom Jr. and more had to say of Jacob Blake’s horrific shooting below:
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