Defying Wisconsin governor, Trump says he will still visit Kenosha

President Donald Trump declared Monday that he would move ahead with a planned trip to Kenosha, Wis., in defiance of Gov. Tony Evers’ request that he stay away from the state amid raw tensions surrounding protests against racial injustice and police brutality.

“If I didn’t INSIST on having the National Guard activate and go into Kenosha, Wisconsin, there would be no Kenosha right now,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Also, there would have been great death and injury. I want to thank Law Enforcement and the National Guard. I will see you on Tuesday!”

The president’s social media post comes after the Associated Press reported that the governor sent a letter to the White House on Sunday urging Trump to reconsider his scheduled visit to Kenosha.

“I, along with other community leaders who have reached out, are concerned about what your presence will mean for Kenosha and our state,” Evers wrote. “I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing. I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.”

Trump and his allies have sought to highlight incidents of rioting and looting that have accompanied the city’s recent protests, which began after Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot in the back seven times by a white police officer earlier this month as he leaned over into his car.

Last Tuesday, two protesters in Kenosha were shot to death and a third was wounded during an attack allegedly carried out by a young white man who was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle.

Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old police admirer from Illinois, was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

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Nuggets’ Jamal Murray gets emotional over BLM after 50-point game

Denver’s Canada-born star forward said the fight for Black Lives Matter doesn’t just happen in America; it happens everywhere.

Jamal Murray, a star forward for the Denver Nuggets, got emotional after leading his team to a playoff win over the Utah Jazz, in which he scored 50 points. 

Being interviewed after the game, Murray said he has a “will to win.” Wearing shoes adorned with the image of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, Murray said, “These shoes mean a lot.” 

Read More: NBA star Donovan Mitchell gives $45,000 to scholarship fund for Jacob Blake’s sons

“We found something worth fighting for, as a league, as a collective unit,” Murray said. “I use these shoes as a symbol to keep fighting all around the world. They give me a lot of power to keep fighting.”

The fight for Black Lives Matter doesn’t just happen in America, he observed; it happens everywhere.

“These shoes give me life,” said Murray though tears. “Even though these people are gone, they help me find the strength to keep fighting this world. That’s what I’m going to keep doing.” 

Read More: Maryland state official fired after sharing posts supporting alleged Kenosha shooter

In the press conference after the Nuggets’ 119-107 win over the Jazz, Murray, who was born in Canada, said, “I play with a lot of heart. I play with a lot of passion, and when you are fighting for something, it means a whole lot more. We’ve been fighting this fight for a long time, and we are tired of being tired.” 

He said that the league is taking the initiative to make sure that every player is registered to vote. He said that the pause in play that players took after the shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin was necessary for the players to gather their thoughts. 

He said that “the NBA is going to keep fighting.” He thanked Commissioner Adam Silver for allowing the players to use their platform.

Read More: Clifford Robinson, former NBA all-star, dies at 53

“It’s an emotional thing because it’s not just me; there are so many other guys. It’s lives … imagine losing your life. Imagine a father losing his life. Imagine a father, a son, a brother, getting shot seven times in front of their kids. Imagine that.” 

Murray paused before adding: “The least I can go out there and do is fight for something.” 

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Winston Duke, Phylicia Rashad remember Chadwick Boseman during ABC special

Cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films joined host Robin Roberts in showering praise on the “Black Panther” star after a commercial-free airing.

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute For a King aired last night following the commercial-free debut of Black Panther on ABC.

Airing just two days after the family of the 43-year-old actor announced his passing, the special featured appearances by cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Don Cheadle, Forest Whitaker and Winston Duke all offered messages about what made Boseman an iconic actor.

Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg also appeared.

Read More: Chadwick Boseman’s final post the most liked tweet ever, Twitter announces

Actor Robert Downey, Jr., who played Iron Man, said that he reached out to Boseman after the police killing of George Floyd. Downey referred to the slaying as a “murder,” saying that Boseman helped him “reframe” the incident.

Downey said that “Black Panther was hands-down the crowning achievement of the Marvel Universe.” He said that the film was one where “people got to vote with ticket sales.” He said that the movie “leveled the playing field.”

Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, said that Boseman’s last tweet, which celebrated her nomination, “encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote.” Opined Harris: “It is so reflective of Chadwick.”

Read More: Chadwick Boseman’s family confirms he and Taylor Simone Ledward married before his death

Phylicia Rashad recalled her time as a teacher at Howard University when Boseman attended the HBCU. “I received a call from one of the students in the class who said, ‘Ms. Rashad, we wanted you to know we auditioned for the British Academy of Dramatic Arts’ mid-summer program, and we got in.’ I said, ‘That’s great,’ and they said, ‘But we’re not going to go because it’s too expensive.’”

Rashad told the students to pack their bags.

“I made a phone call to a friend of mine,” she continued, “and he called me back, and we talked about it for about five minutes. And he said, ‘Okay, I got this money.’”

Read More: Danai Gurira: Chadwick Boseman was exactly like Black Panther

That friend was Denzel Washington.

Boseman thanked Washington during a June 2019 tribute to the Oscar-winner by the American Film Institute, telling everyone assembled: “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington.”

The special’s host, “Good Morning, America’s” Robin Roberts — herself a cancer survivor — said that it was “generous” of Boseman to visit children who were suffering from cancer while, unknown to others, he was also battling the disease.

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