It 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 people in the street. Karen Bloom and John Huber, parents of Anthony Huber: “Today’s verdict means there is no accountability for the person who murdered our son. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin senator (Republican): “I believe justice has been served … I hope everyone can accept the verdict, remain peaceful, and let the community of Kenosha heal and rebuild.” No ruling today changes our reality in Wisconsin that we have work to do toward equity, accountability, and justice that communities across our state are demanding and deserve.” Tony Evers, Wisconsin governor (Democratic): “No verdict will be able to bring back the lives of Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, or heal Gaige Grosskreutz’s injuries, just as no verdict can heal the wounds or trauma experienced by Jacob Blake and his family. I know that we’re not going to heal our country’s wounds overnight, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to do everything in my power to ensure that every American is treated equally, with fairness and dignity, under the law.” I ran on a promise to bring Americans together, because I believe that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. Joe Biden: “While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken. In lieu of a summary, I’ll thank Reuters for this round-up of prominent comments on the verdict: Kari Paul is going to take this blog on from here. The most worrying effect of this verdict may be this: giving rightwing vigilantes a legal precedent to take up arms against anyone they consider a threat – which pretty much runs from anti-fascists to so-called Rinos (Republicans in Name Only) and includes almost all people of color – means it is now open hunting season on progressive protesters.

If there is protest or rioting, don’t expect the police to be as courteous and supportive as they were towards Rittenhouse and his far-right buddies. In the coming hours and days, many media outlets will eagerly await riots or other potentially violent reactions from the other side – from the anti-racists and progressives of all colors and races who are disturbed by this verdict – and use the existence of those riots, if they occur, to push a misguided “ both sides” frame. Given the feverish paranoia and racism that has captured a sizeable minority of white people in the US these days, this is a recipe for disaster. White people now have the apparent right to travel around the country, heavily armed, and use violence to protect the country from whatever and whoever they believe to be threatening to it. In essence, the Rittenhouse ruling has created a kind of “ stand your ground” law for the whole country. Think of the acquittal of George Zimmerman of the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2013. We know that “self-defense” – often better known as vigilantism – is legally protected and highly racialized in this country. Guardian columnist Cas Muddle has written on what the Rittenhouse verdict says about the state of rightwing vigilantism in the US today and the consequences for progressive demonstrators. Keep an eye on this weekend for more updates. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the decision as an indictment of America’s justice system: “What we are witnessing is a system functioning as designed and protecting those it was designed for,” she tweeted.Īnd with that, we will close our blog for the day.The former president put out a brief statement that read: “If that’s not self-defense, nothing is!” Donald Trump “congratulated” Kyle Rittenhouse on today’s verdict.Joe Biden commented on the Rittenhouse outcome, saying that he “stands by” the Rittenhouse decision.“I stand by what the jury has concluded.The acquittal has been widely condemned as a “travesty” that could embolden others to take similar vigilante-style approaches to anti-racism protests and political activists in the future.A jury on Friday found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on charges related to his shooting dead two people at an anti-racism protest and injuring a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year.Here is what has happened in the Rittenhouse case today.

Kyle found not guilty