Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance visited spoke about crime, public safety and the efforts of local law enforcement agencies Tuesday during a visit to Downtown Kenosha.
Vance spoke in Civic Center Park, outside of the Kenosha County Courthouse, to a crowd of supporters. He was accompanied by fellow Republicans including U.S.
Senate nominee Eric Hovde, U.S. Rep.
Bryan Steil and Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner. People gather outside of Civic Center Park on Tuesday during a campaign event for vice presidential candidate JD Vance in Kenosha. Many attendees who showed up to see Vance speak were asked by the Secret Service and Kenosha County Police to watch the event from across the street of the park.
SEAN KRAJACIC KENOSHA NEWS Vance's visit came four years after the park and its surrounding neighborhoods were damaged in the unrest and riots following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer. "Four years ago Kenosha had terrible riots after a police shooting and who was it? Who was the president of the United States that promised that he would send in law enforcement if asked? That was Donald Trump. Who was it that pacified the streets of Wisconsin and ensured that those riots didn't spiral out of control and burn the entire city? That was President Donald J.
Trump," Vance said. "But today, look. We're in a beautiful place, and it's a beautiful town, and we can thank President Trump's leadership and also the law enforcement who did their jobs and did it well," Vance said.
"I will always have the backs of law enforcement." Attendees father around a stage at Civic Center Park on Tuesday ahead of a campaign event for vice presidential candidate JD Vance in Kenosha. SEAN KRAJACIC KENOSHA NEWS Steil expressed similar sentiments.
"The importance of standing with the men and women of law enforcement could not be more important than when we're standing here in the City of Kenosha, as we saw four years ago this week what happens when elected leaders refuse to stand with the men and women of law enforcement," Steil said. Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha Professional Police Association, endorsed the Republican presidential ticket. "Our goal as law enforcement officers is to provide a safe community for all.
...
President Trump has proven he stands with law enforcement and we are confident President Trump and JD Vance will continue to have our backs," Deates said. "That is exactly why the Board of Directors of the Kenosha Professional Police Association are proud to endorse President Trump and Sen. JD Vance.
" Zoerner also spoke during the rally. "It's time to invest in our public safety," Zoerner said. "It's more important than ever that we stand together.
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Locally, we need to work towards trust and cooperation with everyone. This is the only chance we have to end violence in our community. To end reckless behavior that puts our families at risk - you see it all the time on the roads.
This behavior puts our families in harm's way. We need to work to end the theft of our belongings and our property. Property crimes are rampant.
If you know anything about my administration, you know this one resonates with me and I hope it resonates with you: to end drug dealer's access to our children." Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner speaks during a campaign event for vice presidential candidate JD Vance on Tuesday at Civic Center Park in Kenosha. SEAN KRAJACIC KENOSHA NEWS Zoerner said that "when we all stand together with law enforcement we stand for safety, justice and the rule of law.
" Tanya McLean, founder and executive director of local social justice group Leaders of Kenosha, said Vance attempted to "stoke fear" before the presidential election. "This is a place where hard work, family, and freedom come together. It’s a place worth fighting for," McLean said in a prepared statement.
"But JD Vance doesn’t know us, and he sure doesn’t care about what we need. He’s part of the MAGA clown show trying to roll into Kenosha, pushing a fear-based narrative of who we are. We see right through his act.
He’s here to divide us, evoke fear, and distract from the real issues." People gather outside of Civic Center Park on Tuesday during a campaign event for vice presidential candidate JD Vance in Kenosha. SEAN KRAJACIC KENOSHA NEWS Ald.
Anthony Kennedy expressed similar sentiments. "I'm sure it is no coincidence his visit is this close to the anniversary of the Jacob Blake shooting. I'm sure we're going to hear Kenosha's Biggest Lie which is Trump saved Kenosha," Kennedy posted on social media.
"He can not come here and denigrate and insult all the work that people performed to keep this community safe.".
