Wisconsin Shooting, Sports Teams Speak Out

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Wisconsin’s three major professional sports teams wasted no time speaking out after the police shooting of a Black man sparked violent protests in the Milwaukee suburb of Kenosha. A video that went viral on Sunday showed 29-year-old Jacob Blake getting shot as he leaned into his SUV while his three children sat inside the vehicle. Blake was hospitalized and in serious condition Monday.

“A Black man was shot and his life is in peril, and it frankly shouldn’t be,” Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said as he wore a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt before his team’s game Monday with the Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers issued a statement calling the video “deeply disturbing” and noting that “once again, we are faced with images of a horrific incident that show what appear to be inexplicable and excessive force inflicted upon a Black individual.”

The NFL’s Green Bay Packers and NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks also issued statements offering support for Blake and his family.

While conducting a Zoom session with reporters after Monday’s practice, Packers coach Matt LaFleur discussed the emotions he experienced while watching the video of the Kenosha shooting. “When you watch something like that, it’s just so disgusting,” LaFleur said.

“We need to have change,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.