Joe Biden Says He Spoke With Police Shooting Victim Jacob Blake During Kenosha Visit

Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Thursday that he spoke by phone with Jacob Blake during his visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, had been recently paralyzed after being shot seven times by a police officer, resulting in demonstrations and civil unrest on Kenosha’s streets.

"He talked about how nothing was going to defeat him. How whether he walked again or not, he was not going to give up," Biden said about the conversation with Blake. Biden had also met with Blake’s father, brother and two sisters during the visit and had spoken with Blake’s mother and attorneys by phone.

"The family was grateful for the meeting and was very impressed that the Bidens were so engaged and willing to really listen," Blake’s attorney Benjamin Crump said about the meeting. "Jacob's mother led them all in prayer for Jacob's recovery. They talked about changing the disparate treatment of minorities in police interactions, the impact of selecting Kamala Harris as a Black woman as his running mate, and Vice President Biden's plans for change."

During the visit, Biden also spoke with Kenosha residents at Grace Lutheran Church, where he held a community listening session.

"I can’t understand what it’s like to walk out the door, to send my son out the door or my daughter, and worry that just because they’re Black they might not come back," Biden said at the church. "I can intellectually understand it, but I can’t feel it."

President Trump visited Kenosha on Tuesday, against the wishes of the city’s mayor and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. Trump spoke with law enforcement in the community and surveyed property damage from rioting in the city.

Blake’s family declined to meet Trump during the visit. Trump has made several controversial statements about the demonstrations in Kenosha, defending a 17-year-old who allegedly killed two people and injured a third amid the protests.

Trump has frequently touted a “law and order” message to bolster his reelection campaign.

A nationwide Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday showed 50% of likely voters nationwide feel less safe with Trump as president, with 35% saying he has made them feel safer. In comparison, 42% said Biden made them feel safer, with 40% saying the Democratic nominee makes them feel less safe.