The mother of Jacob Blake, the father-of-three who was shot in the back by the police at least seven times, has called for unity and prayers as she condemned the violent protests sparked by the shooting of her son.
In an emotional speech during a press conference, Blake’s mother, Julia Jackson, asked for unity as she claimed “America is great when we behave greatly.”
As the mother asked fellow Americans to pray for the recovery of her son, who has been left paralyzed after being shot in the back at least seven times, she insisted she would be praying for the country and its citizens.
“Citizens, police officers, firemen, clergy, politicians, do Jacob justice on this level and examine your hearts. We need healing,” Jackson said.
“As I pray for my son’s healing physically and emotionally and spiritually, I also have been praying, even before this healing, for our country.”
In her speech, the mother also took an aim at the violent protests that have sprouted across the Kenosha county and insisted that violence “doesn’t reflect my son or my family” and that Jacob wouldn’t be happy with all “the violence and the destruction.”
Encouraging the people to unite and accept each other, Jackson added:
“Clearly you can see right now that I have beautiful brown skin but take a look at your hand and whatever shade it is, it is beautiful as well. How dare we hate what we are. We are humans.
“No one is superior to the other. The only supreme being is God himself. Please let’s begin to pray for healing for our nation. We are the United States, have we been united?”
Despite what had happened to her son, Jackson claimed she would be praying for all citizens, including the police officers, as she urged people to “work together.”
“To all of the police officers, I’m praying for you and your families. To all of the citizens, my Black and brown sisters and brothers, I’m praying for you. I believe you are an intelligent being just like the rest of us,” she added.
“Everybody, let’s use our hearts, our love, and our intelligence to work together to show the rest of the world how humans are supposed to treat each other. America is great when we behave greatly.”
Replaced!