In the chaotic summer of 2020, Americans were reeling from lockdowns, political division, and race-related unrest. The Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, became yet another powder keg—one that exploded into fiery riots, national outrage, and a radicalized push for police reform. But as with so many high-profile events in that turbulent year, the truth was buried beneath layers of media distortion, emotional manipulation, and political opportunism. At the center of this misrepresentation were left-wing politicians and media giants who jumped to conclusions before any investigation was completed.
Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Democratic Governor Tony Evers each played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion around this incident. Their rhetoric, deployed before crucial facts were available, further ignited the fury that engulfed Kenosha and cities across the country. In this post, we will revisit the actual details of the shooting, expose the deliberate obfuscation by progressive media and politicians, and evaluate the ideological motives that turned a justified police action into a national crisis.
What Actually Happened: Jacob Blake’s Confrontation with Police
On August 23, 2020, police officers were dispatched to a 911 call involving a domestic disturbance in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The caller reported that Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, was not supposed to be at the residence and had taken the complainant’s keys. Officers were aware that Blake had an outstanding warrant for sexual assault, trespassing, and disorderly conduct, stemming from a previous domestic violence incident.
When officers attempted to arrest Blake, he resisted, was tasered, and shrugged off the effects. He then walked around to the driver’s side of an SUV with three of his children inside. Despite repeated commands, Blake reached into the vehicle. At that moment, Officer Rusten Sheskey discharged his firearm seven times, striking Blake and paralyzing him from the waist down.
It was later confirmed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice that Blake had a knife in his possession, which he was holding during the incident. Blake admitted this during the investigation. The officer’s actions were reviewed by both state and federal authorities. No charges were filed, and the Department of Justice concluded that the use of force was justified under the circumstances.
The Media Narrative: “Unarmed Black Man Shot in the Back”
Despite these facts, progressive media outlets such as CNN and CBS rushed to frame the event as yet another instance of systemic racism. Headlines spoke of a “Black man shot in the back by police in front of his children.” No context was given for the outstanding warrant, the prior criminal charges, the resistance to arrest, or the fact that Blake was armed. Instead, journalists and news anchors elevated Blake to the status of an innocent victim, repeating inflammatory phrases like “unarmed” and “shot while breaking up a fight.”
This narrative, built on partial truths and omissions, ignited a wave of protests. But the real damage began when Democratic leaders added fuel to the fire.
Kamala Harris: Politicizing the Tragedy
At the time of the shooting, Kamala Harris, then the junior senator from California and Democratic nominee for Vice President, visited Jacob Blake and his family in the hospital. She called him an “incredible young man” and expressed her support for his recovery. Harris’s statement was issued before the Department of Justice released any findings and while a criminal investigation was still underway.
Her rhetoric served a dual purpose. First, it cemented her alignment with the progressive base of the Democratic Party, particularly the Black Lives Matter movement, which demanded swift condemnation of law enforcement. Second, it attempted to frame the 2020 election around systemic racism and police brutality, capitalizing on the emotional outrage sweeping the nation.
Harris never meaningfully walked back her comments—even after Blake’s admission of holding a knife and resisting arrest. Instead, she doubled down on promoting a narrative of police misconduct, reinforcing public suspicion and anger. This was not an act of compassion. It was a calculated move to mobilize progressive voters and distract from the law-and-order record of the Biden-Harris ticket.
Governor Tony Evers: Inciting Without Investigation
Perhaps even more damning was the behavior of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat who issued a statement just hours after the shooting, saying:
“While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement.”
This inflammatory comment was issued before any investigation, implying that Blake had been “mercilessly” harmed by racist police officers. Evers’ words effectively presupposed guilt on the part of the officers and innocence on the part of Blake—without knowing the facts.
His statement poured gasoline on an already volatile situation. That same evening, protests began in Kenosha. Within 24 hours, peaceful protests devolved into rioting, arson, and looting. Buildings were torched. Small businesses were destroyed. Law enforcement and National Guard units had to be deployed to quell the violence.
Rather than apologizing for jumping the gun, Evers stood by his statement. In doing so, he placed political convenience over public safety and responsible governance. His words emboldened activists who believed that any police encounter with a black suspect must be rooted in racial hatred.
The Reality of Police Protocol and Public Safety
Many Americans, misled by the media and Democratic leaders, wondered why police didn’t just “let Blake go.” But law enforcement training paints a very different picture.
Officers are trained under the “21-foot rule,” which reflects the reality that an armed individual can close a distance of twenty feet in under two seconds—a timeframe too short for an officer to reliably draw and discharge a firearm before being attacked. Blake, who had resisted arrest, ignored commands, and was armed with a knife, posed a real and imminent threat to officers and the children in the vehicle.
The idea that a police officer should “wait and see” as a suspect reaches into a vehicle is unrealistic and dangerous. The decision to fire was not based on race—it was based on protocol, threat assessment, and protection of lives.
The Aftermath: Riots, Violence, and Kyle Rittenhouse
The media’s false portrayal of the Jacob Blake shooting, coupled with the irresponsible rhetoric of Harris and Evers, led directly to the Kenosha riots. For three days, the city was held hostage by looters and arsonists. More than 30 businesses were destroyed. Property damage exceeded $50 million.
One of the most explosive events occurred during these riots: the Kyle Rittenhouse shooting. Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old who had traveled to Kenosha to help protect property and offer first aid, shot three men who attacked him, killing two. His trial and eventual acquittal became another lightning rod of media deception and ideological warfare. But none of this would have occurred if truth had prevailed from the start.
Political Motives Behind the Distortion
Why would Harris, Evers, and the media misrepresent the Blake incident?
- Election Year Strategy: In 2020, Democrats leaned heavily into a strategy of painting America as racist and broken. Events like the George Floyd and Jacob Blake incidents were political gold mines, allowing progressives to promise radical change and police reform.
- Ideological Alignment with BLM: The Democratic Party had already embraced the Black Lives Matter platform, with its calls to defund the police and reimagine public safety. Admitting that a black man might be lawfully shot by police contradicted the narrative.
- Distraction from Urban Policy Failures: Riots in cities like Minneapolis, Portland, and Kenosha occurred in Democrat-run jurisdictions, revealing law-and-order failures. Turning the blame toward police diverted attention away from ineffective progressive governance.
- Demonization of Law Enforcement: For years, leftist politicians and activists have viewed traditional law enforcement as a symbol of systemic oppression. Painting police as villains serves a broader ideological agenda that seeks to remake American institutions.
Consequences: Lives and Trust Destroyed
In the end, Jacob Blake survived, and his name became a rallying cry for a cause built on distorted facts. But the real casualties were truth, trust, and public order.
- Small business owners lost everything.
- Innocent people were injured or killed in the riots.
- Public trust in the media and political leaders was further eroded.
- Law enforcement morale plummeted, leading to record retirements and resignations in police departments across the country.
- The public became more divided than ever.
Conclusion: The Danger of Politicized Tragedy
The Jacob Blake incident proves that truth is often the first victim in the rush to score political points. When Democratic politicians like Kamala Harris and Tony Evers use half-truths to incite outrage, the result is not justice—it is destruction.
America needs courageous leaders who wait for facts, uphold justice, and promote unity—not those who exploit tragedy to advance a partisan agenda. The riots of 2020 were not merely spontaneous outcries; they were fueled by coordinated media deception and political posturing.
In the case of Jacob Blake, the truth did come out. But for too many Americans, the damage had already been done.
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
RELATED CONTENT
Concerning the Related Content section, I encourage everyone to evaluate the content carefully.
If I have listed the content, I think it is worthwhile viewing to educate yourself on the topic, but it may contain coarse language or some opinions I don’t agree with.
Feel free to offer your comments below. Respectful comments without expletives and personal attacks will be posted and I will respond to them.
Comments are closed after sixty days due to spamming issues from internet bots.
You can always send me an email at rob@christiannewsjunkie.com if you want to comment on something afterwards, though.
If you have evidence that I am wrong about a material statement of fact, provide the evidence and I will gladly review it and make revisions if merited. Obviously, there are some assertions that are matters of opinion that I will not change, but I always strive to be truthful.
I will continue to add videos and other items to the Related Content section as opportunities present themselves.
I recommend these Youtube channels and commentators for good content on politics and news from a Christian and/or conservative worldview: Albert Mohler, Allie Beth Stuckey, Bill O’Reilly, CBN News, Hugh Hewitt, John Anderson Media (Australia), Nick Freitas, Ruthless Podcast (language warning), Scott Jennings, The Hot Zone with Chuck Holton, Vince Dao, and Verdict with Ted Cruz.
For livestreaming of political protests and riots by conservative commentators, check out Nate Friedman, Cam Higby, James Klug, and Nick Shirley. I don’t agree with the perspectives of all these commentators and the language of protesters is often obscene. Most news outlets will not cover these illegal assemblies, though, because it doesn’t promote their narrative.
Depictions of Jesus Christ are used in some illustrations. I realize that some including conservative Presbyterians consider this to be idolatry. I respectfully disagree with their position on this matter as the commandment forbids worshiping such depictions, and I do not worship these illustrations.