SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Protesters held a banner during a community celebration and call for justice for Jacob Blake that took place while Donald Trump visited Kenosha, Wisconsin on September 1, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for MoveOn)
'Hurts to Breathe... to Sleep... to Move... to Eat': In First Public Remarks Since Being Shot, Jacob Blake Describes Constant Pain
"Every 24 hours it's pain, nothing but pain."
Sep 07, 2020
Speaking publicly for the first time since police officers shot him in the back seven times at point-blank range, Jacob Blake on Saturday said he is in constant pain as a result of the shooting and--while referring to his probable paralysis from the waist down--reminded listeners just how quickly everything "can be taken from you."
Blake's family's lawyer, Ben Crump, shared the video on Saturday night via Twitter. From his hospital bed, Blake told viewers "there's a lot more life to live," but to not take anything for granted because "your life... your legs, something that you need to move around and move forward in life," can be stripped away in an instant.
Blake explained he has staples in his back and stomach and described the extent of his suffering. "Every 24 hours it's pain, nothing but pain," he said. "It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side-to-side, it hurts to eat."
Urging those watching to change their lives, Blake also called for social cooperation and insisted on the importance of economic opportunity, which he said would "make everything easier for our people out here."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Kenny Stancil
Kenny Stancil is senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project and a former staff writer for Common Dreams.
Speaking publicly for the first time since police officers shot him in the back seven times at point-blank range, Jacob Blake on Saturday said he is in constant pain as a result of the shooting and--while referring to his probable paralysis from the waist down--reminded listeners just how quickly everything "can be taken from you."
Blake's family's lawyer, Ben Crump, shared the video on Saturday night via Twitter. From his hospital bed, Blake told viewers "there's a lot more life to live," but to not take anything for granted because "your life... your legs, something that you need to move around and move forward in life," can be stripped away in an instant.
Blake explained he has staples in his back and stomach and described the extent of his suffering. "Every 24 hours it's pain, nothing but pain," he said. "It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side-to-side, it hurts to eat."
Urging those watching to change their lives, Blake also called for social cooperation and insisted on the importance of economic opportunity, which he said would "make everything easier for our people out here."
Kenny Stancil
Kenny Stancil is senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project and a former staff writer for Common Dreams.
Speaking publicly for the first time since police officers shot him in the back seven times at point-blank range, Jacob Blake on Saturday said he is in constant pain as a result of the shooting and--while referring to his probable paralysis from the waist down--reminded listeners just how quickly everything "can be taken from you."
Blake's family's lawyer, Ben Crump, shared the video on Saturday night via Twitter. From his hospital bed, Blake told viewers "there's a lot more life to live," but to not take anything for granted because "your life... your legs, something that you need to move around and move forward in life," can be stripped away in an instant.
Blake explained he has staples in his back and stomach and described the extent of his suffering. "Every 24 hours it's pain, nothing but pain," he said. "It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side-to-side, it hurts to eat."
Urging those watching to change their lives, Blake also called for social cooperation and insisted on the importance of economic opportunity, which he said would "make everything easier for our people out here."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy