New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) is criticizing the verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse’s murder trial.
Just minutes after the jury returned a not guilty verdict on all charges against Rittenhouse, the mayor tweeted, “This verdict is disgusting and it sends a horrible message to this country. Where is the justice in this?”
“We can’t let this go. We need stronger laws to stop violent extremism from within our own nation,” he continued.
This verdict is disgusting and it sends a horrible message to this country.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 19, 2021
Where is the justice in this?
We can't let this go. We need stronger laws to stop violent extremism from within our own nation.
Now is the time. https://t.co/r8TTicFn0U
Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) also weighed in on the verdict, tweeting, “The judge. The jury. The defendant. It’s white supremacy in action.”
“This system isn’t built to hold white supremacists accountable. It’s why Black and brown folks are brutalized and put in cages while white supremacist murderers walk free. I’m hurt. I’m angry. I’m heartbroken,” she added.
The judge. The jury. The defendant.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) November 19, 2021
It’s white supremacy in action.
This system isn’t built to hold white supremacists accountable. It’s why Black and brown folks are brutalized and put in cages while white supremacist murderers walk free.
I’m hurt. I’m angry. I’m heartbroken.
While some blasted the verdict, President Joe Biden told reporters, “The jury system works and we have to abide by it.”
.@POTUS says that he did not watch the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, but that he stands by what the jury has concluded.
— Lauren Egan (@Lauren_V_Egan) November 19, 2021
"The jury system works and we have to abide by it," Biden said.
Rittenhouse was charged with five felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree homicide, and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Jurors were also allowed to consider lesser charges for two of the felonies.
As CNN notes, “The charges stem from the chaotic unrest last year in the wake of the Kenosha Police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man. After instances of rioting and fiery destruction, Rittenhouse, 17 at the time, took a medical kit and an AR-15-style rifle and joined up with a group of other armed people in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020.”
“There, Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum – who was chasing the teenager and threw a plastic bag at him – and then tried to flee the area. A crowd of people pursued the teenager, and Rittenhouse shot at a man who tried to kick him; fatally shot Anthony Huber, who had hit him with a skateboard; and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, who was armed with a pistol,” it added.
Rittenhouse delivered emotional testimony during the trial in which he said, “I didn’t do anything wrong. I defended myself.”
