September 4, 2020 • No Comments • National News

Marilyn Nieves/iStockBy MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News

(KENOSHA, Wisc.) — Jacob Blake, the Wisconsin man who was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha police officer, appeared in court Friday for domestic abuse charges.

Blake, 29, appeared via Zoom from his hospital bed, as he recovers from the Aug. 23 shooting that left him paralyzed from the waist down and sparked protests and civil unrest in the city.

In July, Blake was charged with third-degree sexual assault, a felony, as well as criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, stemming from an alleged assault in May. The felony carries a maximum 10-year prison term.

His attorney, Patrick Cafferty, entered a plea of not guilty for all three charges on Friday.

Blake, wearing a shirt and tie, spoke when he agreed to the terms of his $10,000 bail, including that he could only leave Wisconsin to seek medical treatment. He also cannot have violent contact with the alleged victim or possess any weapons, Commissioner Loren Keating said.

Blake waived his rights to a preliminary hearing. Probable cause was found, Keating said, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for Oct. 21 and jury selection for Nov. 9.

Due to an outstanding warrant stemming from the domestic abuse charges at the time of the police-involved shooting, Blake was previously handcuffed to his hospital bed. That warrant has since been vacated.

Blake, who is out of the intensive care unit, spoke with former Vice President Joe Biden from his hospital bed over the phone on Thursday, while the Democratic presidential nominee was in Kenosha to meet with Blake’s family and community leaders.

Several competing narratives have emerged in the wake of the shooting. The Kenosha Professional Police Association claims Blake was armed with a knife and “forcefully fought” with the officers who tried to subdue him. But those closest to Blake, including his parents, say he is a loving and devoted father of three who did not deserve what happened to him.

ABC News’ Joshua Hoyos contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 4, 2020 • No Comments • National News

A GoodYear’s PhotographyBy NICOLE PELLETIERE, ABC News

(DALLAS) — A mother is speaking out about the false assumptions that are made about her as a Black parent to a white child.

On Aug. 26, Jeena Wilder of Dallas, Texas, and her 6-year-old addressed the comments in a viral video shared with Wilder’s 90,000 Instagram followers.

“There were specific questions people would ask like, ‘Are you the nanny? Are you babysitting these kids?'” Wilder told “Good Morning America.” “No. These are all my children…all four of them.”

“Instead of thinking of other avenues on how people can become mothers, they automatically assume,” she added. “It’s saddening.”

Jeena and Drue Wilder first had their daughter placed with them four years ago after her biological parents were no longer able to care for her. The Wilders, who also have a biological 7-year-old, 3-year-old and another 6-year-old, officially adopted their daughter in October 2019.

Jeena and Drue Wilder first had their daughter placed with them four years ago after her biological parents were no longer able to care for her. The child’s biological parents are related to dad, Drue, so it was a kinship adoption, Wilder explained.

The Wilders, who also have a biological 7-year-old, 3-year-old and another 6-year-old, officially adopted their daughter in October 2019.

“She’s really sweet and super forgiving and is the happiest child,” Jeena said. “She loves being around people and she is my social butterfly.”

Wilder shares her journey on Instagram, where she also talks about transracial adoptions; emphasizing how she has the modern all-American family.

Wilder’s video of herself with her daughter has been viewed by more than 57,000. Many parents commented, revealing how it resonated with them.

Jeena and Drue Wilder of Dallas, Texas, first had their daughter placed with them four years ago after her biological parents were no longer able to care for her. The child’s biological parents are related to dad, Drue, so it was a kinship adoption, Wilder explained.

“I always get mistaken for my daughter’s nanny,” one wrote. “She’s half Indian like me & half Caucasian like Daddy, but she’s still all mine!”

“As the biological mom of biracial girls I’ve ALWAYS been asked if I was their mom,” another mom wrote.

Wilder said she hopes to inspire more BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) to adopt. “Then, it will not only be the norm,” she added. “But we will see more children getting adopted.”

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.