The cities of Portland and Kenosha are currently in the midst of escalated protests that call for an end to systemic racism as well as police brutality. Following his visit to Pennsylvania, former vice president Joe Biden and former second lady Jill Biden will be traveling to Kenosha.
CNN reports the Bidens will be traveling to Kenosha on Thursday. According to the Biden campaign, the Bidens will be there to “hold a community meeting” as well as address the current civil unrest happening amongst the protests. They will also be visiting the family of Jacob Blake, who was shot multiple times in the back by a police officer. Blake is the latest instance of police brutality among unarmed Black Americans, fueling once more the protests following the death of George Floyd back in May. Although Blake survived the shooting, his family revealed that he is paralyzed from the waist down.
Speaking to reporters, Biden revealed that he has received calls from fellow Democratic officials to travel to Kenosha. “What we want to do is — we’ve got to heal. We’ve got to put things together. Bring people together,” said the Democratic candidate.
The Bidens’ trip to Wisconsin comes two days after Donald Trump visited the state to assess the damage brought on by the violent altercations during the protests as well as meet with law enforcement. Trump visited Wisconsin anyway despite the plea of the state governor Tony Evers against his visit as his presence may only deter their healing from the unrest.
The former vice president has recently tackled the concern of reopening schools in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has made the US the worst-hit country in the world so far. In an address from his home in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden blasted Trump regarding the concern of the incoming school year and even called out the president’s constant use of his Twitter account to attack his critics.
“Get off Twitter and start talking to the congressional leaders in both parties. Invite them to the Oval Office. You always talk about your ability to negotiate. Negotiate a deal. A deal for somebody other than yourself,” said Biden.