LOCAL Thursday, August 27, 2020 | kenoshanews.com | SECTION B Wave of break-ins and fire at Citgo on 30th Avenue JILL TATGE-ROZELL breaking the main door on the side,” Gupta camera. The security company was able to [email protected] said. “He came inside. . . he had a bag with contact the police department on his behalf A wave of repeated looting and destruc- him. He put all the cigarettes in that bag. . and at 3:10 a.m. learned those who broke tion that took place late Monday into Tues- . and he ran away in one minute.” in set a fire. day at the Citgo in the 3800 block of 30th Gupta received a second phone call from “The police department said, ‘The place Avenue in Kenosha eventually resulted in the security company at 12:38 a.m. Again, is on fire,’ that’s how I found out,” he said. the business Ravi Gupta purchased in 2016 he checked the camera. “The fire started in the office.” being set on fire. “They shoot four bullets to break the He said he does not believe the oppor- Gupta said he was able to remotely watch window, break this door, but the door was tunists were from the local community. the first two of three break-ins on surveil- bullet proof so they used their feet, their “I don’ think the community people lance video. The third was not available after leg, to break it and they came inside and would do this because I’m part of the com- the cameras were taken out by the looters. they broke all this here, everything,” Gupta munity,” he said. The first call from the security company said. “They took one of the registers with He said he cares deeply for fellow mem- came in at 9:35 p.m. Monday to alert Gupta them because they cannot open that one bers of the business community who have the burglar alarm had been tripped. that has the cash in there.” lost everything during the turmoil that has “I checked on my video camera and there He got the third call at 2:15 a.m. This erupted following the shooting of Jacob was some guy, he was breaking the window, time, Gupta could not login to the security Blake by a Kenosha police officer. Citgo station on Tuesday evening
Fundraisers underway for Kenoshans affected by riots JILL TATGE-ROZELL [email protected] The following is a list of fund- raisers underway for Kensoha business and people affected by the riots. It is a running list and will be updated.
Danish Brotherhood Lodge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ help-us-rebuild-the-danish- brotherhood Roger Willems is organizing this fundraiser. On August 24 our danish brother hood was looted and set fire during a riot. We have been part of this community for many generations and would like to keep that going. We know times are hard but we are asking for help so we can rebuild our lodge and con- tinue to be part of the com- munity. Many of you know the SUBMITTED PHOTOS danish for the infamous dan- Independent video journalist Andrew Mercado reporting from Sheridan Road across from Civic Center Park Sunday night. ish breakfast or maybe their bingo nights. For us the Dan- ish has been a second home a place where family’s share new and old memories. It’s been a Heroes with camera phones place where couples share a special day with their loved Video journalists In addition to helping slow the ones and place where kids get advance of flames near Bradford to enjoy a special Santa visit help save Bradford Church, on subsequent nights every Christmas. The Danish the two have also knocked on has always been a community Community Church doors to alert residents along gathering spot for so many. So 60th Street whose homes have with a little help from family from flames been threatened by fires at and friends I think we can get nearby businesses. our spot back up and running. HEATHER LARSON POYNER “We do put ourselves on the This shouldn’t be the last [email protected] very front of what’s happening memory we have of our beloved On Monday morning the Rev. and do what we can to help,” lodge! Erik David Carlson of Bradford Haliburton said. “On human My ancestors started this club Community Unitarian Univer- level you have to pick up the call 128 years ago. My immediate salist Church remarked that he to arms.” and extended family has been Live stream video journalists who helped stave off flames that was grateful that the church had “I just can’t sit still and hold a an integral part of it since the threatened Bradford Community Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday been unscathed during the riots camera when things are burning beginning. The club has always night. From left, C.J. Haliburton and Andrew Mercado. and looting from the night be- and people are in danger,” Mer- been a place of fellowship and fore. separating the car lot that was ties. cado said. friendship. The club has had its What he didn’t know then was engulfed with flames from the “I was in my room (in Min- financial difficulties in the past that a couple of guardian angels west wall of the church. nesota) watching George Floyd Pastor gives thanks but because of our members we contributed to the safety of the Haliburton began to roll one of unfold and decided to go down On Tuesday morning Carlson always pulled through. We need 113-year-old church building. the full rain barrels they found with my phone,” Mercado says. said he was unaware of the as- to keep our danish heritage alive On Sunday night as fires raged by the side of the church and “Things were happening right sistance provided by Mercado and well in our community. Any at the Car Source, 5821 Sheridan the two saturated the ground by down the street from me (in Se- and Haliburton until he be- help would be greatly appreci- Road, video journalists C.J. Hal- the foundation of the building attle) and I went outside, turned gan receiving video clips of the ated. Thank you all! SKOL! iburton and Andrew Mercado and searched for a faucet for a on the camera and it’s been full two working to save the church leapt into action to help save nearby hose. throttle ever since,” Haliburton through social media. Magical Mattress: https:// the church, 5810 Eighth Ave., At one point Mercado puts said. “They were incredible and www.gofundme.com/f/ whose west side property line the camera on a tripod to help The two met up during the quite certainly stalled the flames help-sue-and-keith-rebuild- was a mere 20 feet away from Haliburton move and empty the Portland protests and put to- in time for the fire department to and-bobs-medical?utm_ the inferno. barrels. gether a road trip to cover events get to the site,” Carlson said. medium=referral&utm_ The two independent video In a telephone interview Tues- throughout the country, with In a formal statement, Carl- source=unknown&utm_cam- journalists had been shooting day afternoon, Mercado said that the goal of live streaming the son said,“All of us at Bradford paign=comms_h33+help-sue- live stream footage of the civil they also knocked on doors to March to Washington D.C. this UU are incredibly grateful to and-keith-rebuild-and-bobs- unrest that had begun imme- the church to alert anyone who Friday. the heroic efforts of (the vid- medical diately following the news that might be inside of the danger. On Sunday they were in Chi- eographers) who went above and Yvonne Rich is organizing this Kenosha resident Jacob Blake “We went with first the intent cago when they got news of the beyond their journalistic call fundraiser. had been shot by a police officer to douse grass and bushes with Jacob Blake shooting. to save our church building.... Monday August 24, 2020 late Sunday afternoon. water — something preventative They left their hotel, drove to Without their quick commu- protesters and looters set fire For several hours, Haliburton to give the fire department time Kenosha and began filming un- nication with the Kenosha Fire to Sue and Keith’s magical and Mercado filmed the crowd as to get there,” Mercado said. “We til 8 a.m. the next morning. They Department and using our rain mattress shop in Kenosha, WI. it gathered at Civic Center Park were streaming live at the time have been live streaming events barrels to keep the flames at The building and all contents and moved down Sheridan Road, and called out (to viewers), ‘If here every night since. bay...our historic building al- are completely destroyed. Our throwing bricks into windows of you’re watching, let the fire de- most certainly would have been dear friend Robert was onsite Reuther High School and the for- partment know the fire is getting Intense in Kenosha lost.” and tried to stop the fire. Rob- mer Mangia Italian Restaurant. close to the church!’” Mercado is no stranger to crisis The only piece of the church ert was viciously attacked and They then documented the situations. Currently serving in property that did not survive beaten. Emergency medical vandalizing of dozens of cars at Traveling the country the Army Reserves, he has served the fires of Sunday night was attention was needed and fur- the Car Source which erupted This is not the first time that active duty in combat situations the church sign and marquee on ther surgery will be required. I into a huge blaze after a fire was the two have helped out while in the Middle East. Sheridan Road with the congre- have seen these three folks help started in the cargo area of a sin- filming stories of civic unrest. Haliburton says that the gation-endorsed message “Black neighborhood people for years gle SUV. For the past three months, Kenosha riots have been among Lives Matter.” with money, food, mattresses But when the fire looked like Mercado, 27, of Findley, Minn., the most intense they have ex- Although grateful for the as- when no one could afford to it would encroach on Brad- and Haliburton, 38, of Seat- perienced to date. “This whole sist, Carlson stated the Bradford pay. They have served the ford Church, however, the two tle, have been live streaming situation is like one big combat community’s continued com- Kenosha community selflessly stepped out of their role as ob- high-tension events starting zone,” he said. “Andrew has been mitment to racial equity and and so didn’t deserve this hor- jective recorders and onto the with George Floyd protests in guiding me through this with his justice. rible attack. front lines. Minneapolis and Seattle. combat training.” “As difficult as the response I have known these wonderful In a two-minute section of the Each has his own company, Both said that while live to the shooting of Jacob Blake folks for years. They are honest, video, Mercado is heard calling Mercado Media and CJ TV, re- streaming events in real time is has been for Kenosha, we would hardworking and honorable to Haliburton, “Hey that park- spectively, and both began live critical, there is also a time to set rather lose 100 buildings than people.
M ing lot is open on the other side!” streaming events following civil down the camera and pitch in to one more life to police violence,” 1 indicating a gap in the fencing unrest in their own communi- help. Carlson said. Please see FUNDRAISERS, Page B2