He was armed. That is not in dispute. See [here](https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/kenosha-police-union-gives-its-...). You could also see the knife in his hands in the video and hear the officers tell him to drop the knife.

The fact that you thought otherwise illustrates the problem precisely. Social and traditional media companies had no issue allowing this misconception to spread unfettered because aligned with their political beliefs.