KENOSHA — The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for the immediate resignation of Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis and Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake and the shooting of three protesters, two fatally, this week.
In a statementThursday, the ACLU of Wisconsin and National ACLU alleged that Sheriff Beth not only "fraternized" with white supremacist counter-protesters, but "allowed the shooter to leave as people yelled that he was the shooter."
The ACLU goes on to say that Beth allegedly excused this by saying his deputies may not have paid attention to the shooter because of several distractions. According to the ACLU, Beth says those include “screaming” and “hollering,” people running, police vehicles idling, “nonstop radio traffic,” and that “in situations that are high stress, you have such an incredible tunnel vision."
The ACLU adds in its statement that Beth was allegedly criticized in 2019 after calling for five people of color who had been arrested for shoplifting to be put into warehouses “where we put these people who have been deemed to be no longer an asset," according to the statement.
“The ACLU strongly condemns Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Miskinis’ response to both the attempted murder of Jacob Blake and the protests demanding justice for him. Their actions uphold and defend white supremacy, while demonizing people who were murdered for exercising their First Amendment rights and speaking out against police violence,” said Chris Ott, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, in the statement.
“The only way to rectify these actions is for both Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Daniel Miskinis to immediately tender their resignations," according to Ott.
The ACLU says if Beth and Chief Miskinis refuse to immediately tender their resignation, the ACLU will call for Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian to demand the police chief’s removal by the Kenosha Police and Fire Commission, and the sheriff’s removal by Gov. Tony Evers.
