UN: US police shooting of Blake appears 'excessive'

The police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin sparked protests across the United States and indignation among Black Lives Matter activists -- now the United Nations is weighing in.

A top UN human rights official said Friday the shooting appeared to be an “excessive” use of force.

Rupert Colville, UN Human Rights Office spokesman, also said it could be “discriminatory in nature.”

“…the police appear to have used force against Jacob Blake that would seem to be excessive and it does not appear that the law enforcement officers abided by the international standards for the intentional use of lethal force, with a firearm.”

A white police officer shot Blake – a Black man – in the back on Sunday as three of his children watched.

Blake survived, but has been paralyzed, his lawyers told reporters this week.

The footage went viral and sparked fierce protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

On Tuesday three demonstrators were shot, two of them killed. A vigilante teenager from Illinois has been charged with first degree intentional homicide.

"… It should be inconceivable to have a 17-year old running out with an automatic rifle in a position to shoot people in this way, in such a tense situation.”

Colville is the spokesman for Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has moral authority but can’t force countries to act.