The Kenosha Riots: Two Years Ago Today

In the aftermath of the August 23rd police shooting of Jacob Blake, the city of Kenosha saw days of widespread protests, riots and civil unrest.

Several buildings, including local businesses, apartments, and government offices were burned to the ground. Midtown Kenosha saw rampant looting of businesses, several of which did not return after the unrest subsided.

Face-offs with police outside the courthouse occurred nightly. Police largely stayed in the area immediately surrounding the court and police station. With limited emergency services available elsewhere in the city, armed citizens began gathering at various businesses in Kenosha.

Tensions came to a head on the night of August 25th, when the Kyle Rittenhouse shooting occurred mere blocks away from lines of police. A heavy police crackdown on curfew and assembly occurred in the days that followed, with arrests and citations issued as the city began to clean up from the riots. Protests largely subsided, only briefly returning to the courthouse during the subsequent trial of Kyle Rittenhouse in November 2021. The Kenosha County DA announced on January 5th, 2021 that no charges would be filed against the officer who shot Blake in August 2020.