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Three people were arrested during a protest calling for the firing of the Wisconsin police officer who shot Jacob Blake, including the partially paralyzed man’s uncle, authorities said.

Roughly 40 demonstrators took part in Sunday’s demonstration, which called for the termination of Kenosha cop Rusten Sheskey, who returned from administrative leave on March 31, the Kenosha News reported.

Blake’s uncle, Justin Blake, was among the three protesters arrested outside the Kenosha Public Safety Building on charges of disorderly conduct as they sat in front of the building’s door for some seven hours, the newspaper reported.

Justin Blake, 52, of Chicago, was also charged with obstructing or resisting an officer. He was released early Monday after posting bond, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.


  Jacob Blake speaks during an interview broadcast on ABC News’ “Good Morning America” on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. AP Jacob Blake speaks during an interview broadcast on ABC News’ “Good Morning America” on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. AP

Jail logs cited by the outlet show that a former Kenosha County Board supervisor, Joseph Cardinali, 24, and a pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Kenosha, the Rev. Jonathan Barker, 37, were also released Monday after posting bond for misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Activists at the rally were calling for Kenosha’s police chief, Daniel Miskinis, to apologize to Blake’s family for not notifying them of Sheskey’s return to the force last month and the public release of all documents related to the August 2020 shooting during a domestic dispute that left the black man paralyzed from the waist down.


  Led by Jacob Blake’s uncle, Justin Blake, about three dozen people rallied at the Kenosha, Wisconsin, Municipal Building and marched around the building, calling for police officer Rusten Sheskey to be fired. © Mark Hertzberg/ZUMA Wire Led by Jacob Blake’s uncle, Justin Blake, about three dozen people rallied at the Kenosha, Wisconsin, Municipal Building and marched around the building, calling for police officer Rusten Sheskey to be fired. © Mark Hertzberg/ZUMA Wire

Blake was shot seven times, but was armed with a knife and Sheskey thought he was going to be stabbed, prosecutors found.

Miskinis announced on April 13 that Sheskey, who is white, had returned from administrative leave after “acting within the law” when he opened fire on Blake.


  Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey returned from administrative leave on March 31. Brian Passino/The Kenosha News via AP Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey returned from administrative leave on March 31. Brian Passino/The Kenosha News via AP

The shooting came just three months after George Floyd died while being restrained by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, setting off renewed protests in Wisconsin and across the country. The now-former officer was convicted last week of all charges he faced, including second-degree murder, in Floyd’s May 25 police-custody death.


  Police in riot gear stand guard in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23, 2020. Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File Police in riot gear stand guard in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23, 2020. Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File

Sheskey is currently working a desk job and hasn’t returned to patrol duties, the Kenosha News reported.

Jacob Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr., also attended Sunday’s rally, NBC Chicago reported.


  Three were arrested at a protest calling for the firing of Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey, the cop who shot Jacob Blake. Screenshot Kenosha News Three were arrested at a protest calling for the firing of Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey, the cop who shot Jacob Blake. Screenshot Kenosha News

“Our family doesn’t feel like we received proper answers, notification of any sort that this officer is back out on the streets,” Blake Sr. told the station. “He attempted to murder my son in my eyes, and in a lot of other eyes, that’s what he did.”


  About 40 demonstrators took part in the protest calling for the firing of Officer Rusten Sheskey. Screenshot Kenosha News About 40 demonstrators took part in the protest calling for the firing of Officer Rusten Sheskey. Screenshot Kenosha News

Prosecutors announced in January that Sheskey would not be criminally charged. Blake filed a federal civil suit last month accusing the officer of excessive force, the Kenosha News reported.

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