Governor Tony Evers is sending more Wisconsin National Guard troops to Kenosha as he declares a state of emergency over ongoing protests in Kenosha and across the state.

He emphasized that they can not impede the ability of the public to peacefully protest or prevent the media from reporting on the situation, but he is increasing the the number of troops in order to protect critical infrastructure and institutions including first responders.

Rioters burned and damaged a significant amount of property in Kenosha over the last 36 hours, including cars, government buildings and area businesses.

The civil unrest stems from a Kenosha police officer shooting an unarmed Black man at close range Sunday evening in an incident caught on camera and spread widely on social media.

The father of the victim, Jacob Blake, says his son is suffering paralysis from the waist down as a result of the shooting, and they are unsure if it will be permanent.

You can download and read Governor Evers’ full state of emergency declaration here