Friend –

On August 23, a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake at least seven times in the back. The subsequent protests in Kenosha have gone on since the incident, protesting police and sheriff's departments that seem all too happy to allow racist violence to go unchecked, inside the departments, and in the community.

In this protest moment, these law enforcement departments have decided NOT to protect free speech, but to react in a militarized way towards protestors. Most notably, when right-wing extremists arrived at the protests armed with automatic weapons, Kenosha law enforcement greeted them warmly, provided them water, and failed to enforce the curfew against them – even while aggressively enforcing the curfew against protesters.

Call on Governor Evers and Attorney General Kaul to do the right thing, and stand up for the civil rights of Wisconsinites.

Now, in addition to the problems we face from the Kenosha police and sheriff's departments, federal forces are coming to Wisconsin. We are concerned about numerous reports of protesters who have been abducted from the streets by officers in unmarked vehicles and taken to unknown locations, which raise chilling echoes of similar events in Portland. In at least one video, one of the officers is clearly wearing a U.S. Marshal's jacket, which suggests that federal officials may be involved.

This cannot stand. The people of Wisconsin have the right to their freedom of speech, and should be able to rely on their elected officials to stand up for them when officers sworn to protect and serve break the law and turn on the people who need most protecting.

Join us now in strongly urging the Governor and the Attorney General to investigate, or immediately appoint a special counsel to investigate, and, if warranted, prosecute any crimes or civil rights violations committed by federal, state, or local law enforcement against protesters, journalists, legal observers, and medics in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has invited federal forces into our state. Now the state must promise to hold them and any other law enforcement officials to account for their actions.

Thanks for sticking with us,

ACLU of Wisconsin