A United States court declared “not guilty” of all the charges against Kyle Rittenhouse, the young man who killed two people and injured a third during the anti-racism demonstrations in August 2020 in Kenosha. The jury found that he acted in self-defense. The case reignites the debate on the use of weapons and the scope of self-defense. President Joe Biden expressed his “anger” at the ruling and calls for the protests against the ruling to be peaceful.
The exoneration of Kyle Rittenhouse, a court ruling that generates deep division in the United States.
The then 17-year-old killed two men and wounded a third with a semiautomatic rifle during a tumultuous night of protests against racial injustice in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020.
The fatalities were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, while Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, suffered gunshot wounds to one of his arms.
However, Rittenhouse, now 18, was completely acquitted of any crime, after a jury on Friday, November 19, found that he acted in self-defense.
Five indictments weighed against him: first degree murder with the use of dangerous weapons, two counts of putting someone in immediate danger, attempted murder, and murder. The latter carried a life sentence in case he had been found guilty.
But one by one, and after deliberations that captured the attention of the entire country, the jury dismissed responsibility and pronounced the words “not guilty” for each of the charges.
Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all five felony charges in the shooting deaths of two people and the wounding of another during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The jury delivered the not guilty verdict after four days of deliberations.
Read more: https://t.co/p1v8zyXTJr pic.twitter.com/JB5X35zEbk
– Newsweek (@Newsweek) November 19, 2021
Rittenhouse began to sob at the verdict and collapsed on the floor before being helped back to his chair, hands shaking.
“He wants to get on with his life (…) He has a great feeling of relief for what the jury did to him today. He wishes none of this would happen, but as he said when he testified, he did not initiate this,” said the defense attorney, Mark Richards.
“There is no responsibility for the person who murdered our son. “
The ruling adds fuel again in a country strongly polarized in the face of thorny issues such as the second amendment to the Constitution that grants the right to bear arms, the limits of self-defense and racism. Reactions for and against were immediately triggered.
The ruling was greeted with anger and disappointment by those who view Rittenhouse as a violent man; while others welcomed the ruling as a vindication for those who consider him a patriot who acted in the face of chaos and “anarchy.” His supporters donated more than $ 2 million to his defense.
“There is no responsibility for the person who murdered our son (…) We are heartbroken and angry that Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted in his criminal trial for the murder of our son Anthony Huber. Today there was no justice for Anthony, nor for the other victims of the Mr. Rittenhouse, Joseph Rosenbaum and Gaige Grosskreutz, ”Anthony Huber’s family said in a statement.
President Joe Biden admitted his rejection of the ruling and urged the population to express themselves peacefully in the face of the possibility of protests over the controversial ruling.
“While the Kenosha verdict may cause many Americans, myself included, feelings of anger and concern, we must admit that the jury has spoken,” Biden said.
The African American and lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, Mandela Barnes, reproached the result like activists of civil rights, when indicating a double standard in the case.
“Over the past few weeks, many have feared the outcome we just witnessed (…) The presumption of innocence until proven guilty is what we should expect from our judicial system, but that standard does not always apply equally. We have seen so many young Afro murdered, only to be tried posthumously, while the judge implicitly demanded the innocence of Kyle Rittenhouse. “
“Justice has been done”
On the other side of the coin, the National Rifle Association, an organization with significant influence in the Republican Party, celebrated the outcome of the trial with the publication of the text of the Second Amendment on its Twitter account.
Political figures on the American right also applauded the decision and condemned the case brought against Rittenhouse.
Republican Senator from Wisconsin Ron Johnson said that “justice was served (…) I hope that everyone can accept the verdict, that there is peace and that Kenosha can heal and rebuild.”
I appreciate the dedication of the jurors and the judge in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. They were operating under intimidation and threats. That should not be happening in America. pic.twitter.com/jFBVJPTMyo
– Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) November 20, 2021
Mark McCloskey, who was investigated after he and his wife pointed a rifle and pistol at ‘Black Lives Matter’ protesters as they marched in front of their St. Louis home in 2020, said the verdict shows that people they have the right to defend themselves from a “crowd.” McCloskey is now a Republican candidate for the US Senate, in Missouri.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers was less critical. “I have seen the pain and frustration of many (…) It is time to look forward, together and build the future we want for our state,” he posted on his social networks.
The theses of the fateful August 25, 2020
The bloodshed in Kenosha took place at a convulsive moment of protests in the United States after a white policeman shot at the African American Jacob Blake, who was left paralyzed in half of his body.
The country was already seeing the resurgence of anger at the violence with racial overtones, after the death of George Floyd that unleashed massive demonstrations inside and outside the country.
According to the exposition of the case during the trial, on August 25, 2020, Rittenhouse headed to Kenosha, Wisconsin, after leaving his residence in Anitoch, in the neighboring state of Illinois, after the businesses were looted and burned. In the nights that followed the Blake shooting.
Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges after pleading self-defense in the deadly Kenosha, Wisconsin shootings that became a flashpoint in the nation’s debate over guns and racial injustice. The jury came back with its verdict after about 3 1/2 days. https://t.co/bh7wMP5gfK pic.twitter.com/aHeveX0tFu
– The Associated Press (@AP) November 19, 2021
The young man joined other armed civilians on the streets, carrying a weapon that authorities said was illegally purchased for him because he was a minor.
Videos of witnesses and drones captured most of the frenzied chain of events. Rittenhouse first killed Rosenbaum, then fatally shot Huber and finally wounded protester Gaige Grosskreutz
Prosecutors described Rittenhouse as an “aspiring soldier” who had sought trouble that night and was responsible for creating a dangerous situation by pointing his rifle at protesters and moving to a place where he did not even reside.
However, the defense argued that Rittenhouse was first repeatedly attacked and that he had shot the men for fear of losing his life.
In addition, they assured that the teenager only wanted to protect private property after several nights of riots in the city south of Milwaukee.
Rittenhouse repeated to the jury that he opened fire after Rosenbaum chased him down and took his gun. He said he was afraid the rifle would be taken from him and used to kill him.
After the verdict, Huber’s parents, Karen Bloom and John Huber, said the result “sends the unacceptable message that armed civilians can show up in any town, incite violence, and then use the danger they have created to justify shooting. against people in the street. “
For its part, the acquittal “sends an unacceptable message that armed civilians can appear in a city, incite violence and then use the danger that they have created to justify shooting people in the street,” lamented the parents of Huber.
Outside the courtroom, Jacob Blake’s uncle said he was shocked by the verdict, and that if Rittenhouse had been a young African man, “the police would have shot him.”
The verdict ends the criminal case against Rittenhouse. However, new lawsuits are expected against Police and government officials in Kenosha, as announced by Huber’s father and a group of protesters has already sued the city and Kenosha County alleging that curfew laws were enforced against them, but not against armed people like Rittenhouse.
With Reuters, AP and local media
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