Logan Reid
In September 2020, Kamala Harris, the then-Democratic vice-presidential candidate, visited the family of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake had previously been charged with third-degree sexual assault, but had not been tried or convicted. Harris also spoke to Blake over the phone as he recovered in the hospital. Following the visit, Harris faced criticism on social media, with some claiming that she had told a rapist that she was proud of him. However, these claims are based on a secondhand account of the encounter, and Harris' exact words to Blake remain unconfirmed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the visit | 7 September 2020 |
| Person visited by Kamala Harris | Jacob Blake |
| Location | Wisconsin |
| Jacob Blake's background | Charged with third-degree sexual assault, but not tried or convicted |
| Kamala Harris' role at the time of the visit | Democratic vice-presidential candidate |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris met with Jacob Blake's family in Wisconsin
On September 7, 2020, Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, met with Jacob Blake's family in Wisconsin. This marked her first solo campaign trip since being nominated as Joe Biden's running mate. Harris told reporters that the Blake family was an incredible family and that they had endured Blake's injuries and the subsequent nationwide attention "with such dignity and grace".
Harris also spoke to Blake over the phone while he recovered in the hospital from his injuries. Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, had been shot seven times in the back by police officers during a confrontation in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 23, 2020. There was also an arrest warrant for Blake on charges of third-degree sexual assault, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct.
Details of Harris and Blake's conversation sparked controversy on social media, with some claiming that Harris had expressed pride in a rapist. According to Ben Crump, Blake's lawyer, Harris told Blake that she was proud of him and how he is working through his pain. In response, Blake told Harris that he was proud of her.
Harris's visit to the Blake family came after she criticized the police's handling of the situation and called for the officer involved in the shooting to be charged. During her time in Wisconsin, Harris also held a roundtable discussion with Black leaders and small business owners in Milwaukee, where she addressed the impact of COVID-19 on minority- and women-owned businesses.
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Blake was accused of sexual assault and shot by police
On August 23, 2020, 29-year-old Jacob S. Blake was shot and seriously injured by police officer Rusten Sheskey in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Sheskey shot Blake in the back four times and the side three times after Blake opened the driver's door of an SUV belonging to the mother of his children and attempted to reach inside. Sheskey stated that he believed he was about to be stabbed, as Blake was holding a knife. Blake had a warrant for his arrest from July, based on charges of third-degree felony sexual assault, trespassing, and disorderly conduct for domestic abuse. The woman who called 911 on August 23 to report that Blake had stolen her keys was the same woman who had previously filed the criminal complaint alleging that Blake had sexually assaulted her.
Following the police shooting, there was unrest in the form of rallies, marches, property damage, arson, and clashes with police. Two men were fatally shot by an armed civilian, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse from Antioch, Illinois. Blake's name was invoked in protests in other cities as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. In January 2021, Kenosha County prosecutors announced that the officers involved in the shooting would not be charged, and Sheskey returned to regular police duty in April 2021.
In September 2020, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., visited Blake's family and spoke to Blake himself over the phone as he recovered in the hospital from his injuries. Harris expressed that she was proud of Blake as he made his recovery. This drew censure from social media users who learned that Blake had previously been accused of sexual assault. However, Blake had not been tried or convicted of the charges.
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Harris expressed she was proud of Blake during his recovery
In September 2020, Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, visited the family of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the previous month. Harris also spoke to Blake himself over the phone as he recovered in the hospital from his injuries. Blake was charged with third-degree sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend but had not been tried or convicted.
National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump released a statement on Harris's visit with the Blake family. According to Crump, "In a moving moment, Jacob Jr. told Sen. Harris that he was proud of her, and the senator told Jacob that she was also proud of him and how he is working through his pain." Harris expressed that she was proud of Blake as he made his recovery. Given that Blake was also previously charged, but not convicted of sexual assault, this claim has been rated as a "mixture".
Harris's visit to Blake's family took place after she criticized the police officers' handling of the situation. She met with the family and members of Blake's legal team at a private airport in Milwaukee. Harris spoke with the family about how they were handling the trauma of the shooting. She also addressed the Biden campaign's policy goals, including the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill focusing on police practices and law enforcement accountability.
During her visit to Wisconsin, Harris was also scheduled to tour an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers training facility and speak with union members and Wisconsin labor leadership. She was also planning to take part in a roundtable with Black Milwaukee business owners.
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Harris spoke to Blake over the phone while he was in hospital
In September 2020, Kamala Harris, the then Democratic vice-presidential candidate, visited the family of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the previous month. Blake was charged with third-degree sexual assault, but had not been tried or convicted. Harris also spoke to Blake himself over the phone while he was in hospital recovering from his injuries.
National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump released a statement following Harris' visit with the Blake family. According to Crump, "In a moving moment, Jacob Jr. told Sen. Harris that he was proud of her, and the senator told Jacob that she was also proud of him and how he is working through his pain."
Harris' visit to Blake's family came after she criticised the police officers' handling of the situation. During her visit, she also discussed the Biden campaign's policy goals, including the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill focusing on police practices and law enforcement accountability.
Harris' expression of pride in Blake drew censure on social media, with some users claiming that she had told a rapist that she was proud of him. However, it is important to note that Blake had only been charged and not convicted of sexual assault at the time of Harris' statement.
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Harris also met with members of Blake's legal team
In September 2020, Kamala Harris, the then Democratic vice-presidential candidate, visited the family of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake was charged with third-degree sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend but had not been tried or convicted. Harris also spoke to Blake over the phone as he recovered in the hospital from his injuries. Details about their conversation sparked controversy as social media users learned of Blake's previous sexual assault accusation.
Harris met with members of Blake's legal team at a private airport in Milwaukee. Benjamin Crump, an attorney representing the Blake family, released a statement following Harris' visit. According to Crump, Harris spoke with the family about how they were coping with the trauma of the shooting. She also discussed the Biden campaign's policy goals, including the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which focuses on police practices and law enforcement accountability.
Harris' visit to Blake's family and her conversation with him drew mixed reactions. Some criticised her for allegedly expressing pride in Blake, who had been accused of sexual assault. However, Crump's statement provided context to the conversation, clarifying that Blake Jr. told Harris he was proud of her, and she responded by saying she was proud of him for working through his pain.
The dynamic between Harris and the Blake family was complex. While Harris aimed to show support and address policy changes, the conversation's specifics sparked controversy due to Blake's past charges. Harris' visit highlights the challenges of navigating sensitive topics during a highly charged political environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris visited the family of Jacob Blake, who was accused of rape, in September 2020. Harris did not visit him in the hospital, but she did speak to him over the phone during his recovery.
National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump released a statement on Sen. Harris' visit with the Blake family, in which he said, "In a moving moment, Jacob J. told Sen. Harris that he was proud of her, and the senator told Jacob that she was also proud of him and how he is working through his pain."
The visit sparked controversy on social media, with some users criticizing Harris for expressing support for an alleged rapist.
In June 2020, Harris urged her Twitter followers to "help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota." This appeal was used in an attack ad against her, claiming that she helped free an accused child rapist. However, Harris' request was specifically directed towards bailing out protesters, not alleged sex offenders.
