Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency, saying he would deploy more state National Guard troops, as the city of Kenosha braces for a third night of unrest following the shooting of a black man by police.
Mr Evers said he would authorise an increase in the Wisconsin National Guard's presence - more than 100 members were deployed last night - to 250. The move came as other officials called for a more forceful response after a night of looting and arson overshadowed peaceful protesters on the streets.
"Essentially, our city was burned to the ground, building by building," Kenosha County Board of Supervisors member Zach Rodriguez said. "Enough is enough."
Mr Rodriguez said the board would hold an emergency meeting today on seeking federal help because of concerns the governor was not doing enough.
Officials were preparing for a repeat of last night when smoke billowed over central Kenosha and police in riot gear clashed with protesters who defied a dusk-to-dawn curfew amid outrage over the shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Blake, who had been attempting to break up a fight between two women, was struck by four of the seven shots, all fired by one officer, in front of his sons aged three, five and eight, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family, told ABC News today.
Mr Blake was airlifted to the hospital in Milwaukee in a serious condition, but local media reported yesterday afternoon that his family said he was out of surgery and improving.
Shortly after a curfew imposed on Kenosha County began at 8pm (2am Irish time) last night, local police dressed in crowd control gear began pushing protesters back from outside a county courthouse using tear gas.
They fired after the demonstrators began throwing water bottles at the Kenosha County Sheriff's officers.
Some protesters then launched fireworks and more bottles at officers.
The clashes came hours after some two dozen police faced off against hundreds of demonstrators chanting "No justice, no peace" and "Say his name - Jacob Blake".
Kenosha County, on the shores of Lake Michigan, declared a curfew from 8pm until 7am, after protesters set alight several city vehicles and damaged the county courthouse late Sunday.
"The public needs to be off the streets for their safety," the county sheriff said in a statement.
Mr Evers urged protesters to be peaceful, adding: "We must see the trauma, fear and exhaustion of being black in our state and our country."
The footage and the lack of any immediate explanation provoked memories of the police killing of African American George Floyd three months ago in Minneapolis, which sparked massive nationwide protests.
Fresh demonstrations were held in the Minnesota city last night also to join the calls for justice for Mr Blake. Some demonstrators were seen burning an American flag.
Hundreds of protesters also marched in New York City against Mr Blake's shooting.
"I'm angry and I'm upset and I'm tired. I'm really tired. I'm tired of marching 27 miles up and down the city for this," one protester, who gave her name only as Awal, said with tears in her eyes.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden called for a transparent probe into the shooting.
"Yesterday, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police. His kids watched from the car. Today, we woke to grieve yet again. We need a full and transparent investigation," he said.
Wisconsin's Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes said the shooting of Mr Blake reflected a pattern of police violence nationwide against African Americans.
Mr Barnes said Mr Blake "was actually trying to de-escalate a situation in his community but the responding officer didn't feel the need to do the same".
Kenosha police pushed back at criticism, and urged the public to wait for the results of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
"As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident," said Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha Professional Police Association.
The officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave, according to the justice department.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the families of George Floyd and other black victims of police violence, said Mr Blake had been trying to break up a fight between two women.
"We will seek justice for Jacob Blake and for his family as we demand answers from the Kenosha Police Department," Mr Crump said in a statement.
Mr Evers also called a special session of the state legislature to pass bills on police reforms he said were submitted two months ago but stifled by Republicans.
"We cannot wait for Republican leadership to show up for work, because clearly they intend to keep us waiting," he said.
