#RNC 2020 opened second night with prayer for Jacob Blake

Republicans opened the second night of their 2020 convention with a message of prayer for Jacob Blake — the Wisconsin father of three shot seven times by a police officer on Sunday.

Norma Urrabazo, pastor of the International Church of Las Vegas, delivered the holy message, inviting those watching “to join your faith in mine, and let us pray in agreement.”

“Lord, we come before you to ask for your spirit of peace to come over hurting communities in Wisconsin tonight. We pray for healing and comfort to Jacob Blake and his family,” Urrabazo prayed, referencing the 29-year-old black man currently in a Wisconsin hospital after being hit with bullets in his stomach and spinal cord.

The Nevada pastor went on to pray for police officers protecting the streets in the wake of rioting over Blake’s shooting.

“We pray for your protection over those who put their lives in harm’s way to bring safety and security to our streets,” Urrabazo remarked.

“We pray that the truth and justice will be at the heart of all decisions that our made by our leaders and that we, as a people, will seek reconciliation with You as we do with each other.”

Tuesday’s opening prayer marked the first time Blake had been mentioned during the convention, just two days after his shooting captured national attention.

On Monday, two prominent RNC speakers referenced George Floyd, the 46-year-old unarmed black man whose murder at the hands of a police officer sparked months of protests and riots.

“From a global pandemic, to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, 2020 has tested our nation in ways we haven’t seen for decades,” Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said during his remarks.

The South Carolina Republican went on to argue that this election is “about how we respond when tackling critical issues like police reform.”

Donald Trump Jr., meanwhile, decried Floyd’s murder as “a disgrace.”

“All men and women are created equal and must be treated equally under the law. That’s why we must put an end to racism, and we must ensure that any police officer who abuses their power is held accountable.

“What happened to George Floyd is a disgrace. And if you know a police officer, you know they agree with that, too,” the president’s eldest son said.

However, he added, “We cannot lose sight of the fact that our police are American heroes. They deserve our deepest appreciation. Because no matter what the Democrats say, you and I both know when we dial 911, we don’t want it going to voicemail. So ‘defunding’ the police is not an option.”