'We appreciate you guys': Wisconsin police in armored vehicles thanked armed militia and gave out water bottles

• Law-enforcement officers responding to the protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday evening provided water to armed militia members and thanked them for their presence.
• "We got a couple. We got to save a couple, but we'll give you a couple," a voice over an intercom said. "We appreciate you guys, we really do."
• It was unclear whether footage of the moment was taken before or after the shooting that killed at least two people in Kenosha.

Law-enforcement officers responding to the protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday evening provided water to armed militia members and thanked them for their presence, according to video footage of the scene.

Video footage showed law-enforcement officers in armored vehicles speaking with the militants over an intercom, issuing some orders to the crowd and asking whether the people needed water.

"We got a couple. We got to save a couple, but we'll give you a couple," a voice over the intercom said. "We appreciate you guys, we really do."

Many armed civilians took to the streets to protect businesses from vandalism during the third straight evening of protests over the police shooting of a Black man on Sunday.

The Kenosha Police Department and the sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

It was unclear whether the footage was taken before or after the shooting that killed at least two people in Kenosha. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old said to have been armed with a semiautomatic rifle, was arrested in connection with the shooting on Tuesday evening. Graphic video appeared to show Rittenhouse firing at protesters. He is believed to have traveled from his home in Illinois to guard businesses in Wisconsin.

A local militia was among those taking to the streets to protect businesses from being defaced.

The protests are in response to Sunday's shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, who is now said to be paralyzed from the waist down. Video footage of the incident — in which a white police officer could be seen shooting Blake in the back multiple times after Blake walked away from officers and started to get into a car — was recorded and distributed on social-media channels, prompting outrage across the nation.

Following the protests and the destruction of businesses in the city, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers activated the state's National Guard to assist first responders. Evers initially activated about 125 Guard members to assist first responders but later increased that number "to ensure individuals can exercise their right safely, protect safe buildings and critical infrastructure, and support first responders and firefighters."

"I know folks across our state will be making their voices heard in Kenosha and in communities across Wisconsin," Evers said in a statement on Monday. "Every person should be able to express their anger and frustration by exercising their First Amendment rights and report on these calls to action without any fear of being unsafe."