The verdict of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial was announced on November 19th, 2021, and the jury found eighteen-year-old Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges. In August 2020, Rittenhouse was charged with 5 felonies—first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety—in connection to the killing of two men and the wounding of a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kyle Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and severely wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, all three of whom were participating in a protest over the police shooting of a Black man named Jacob Blake.
As CBS reported, Rittenhouse argued that he traveled to Wisconsin with an AR-15 rifle “to help protect local businesses and provide first aid” during these protests. He testified that he did not do anything wrong, and was simply defending himself. Rittenhouse’s defense attorney, Mark Richards, claimed that every person whom Kyle shot was attacking him first: “one with a skateboard, one with his feet, one with a gun.”
Opposing Rittenhouse, the prosecutor Thomas Binger stated to CNN that “[Rittenhouse’s actions are] what provokes this entire incident. When the defendant provokes this incident, he loses the right to self-defense. You cannot claim self-defense against a danger you create.” Another argument from Binger was that Rittenhouse falsely claimed to be an Emergency Medical Technician. The prosecutor also argued that although Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse, Rittenhouse’s four shots at Rosenbaum were unnecessary; they ultimately ended Rosenbaum’s life.
The judge of the trial, Bruce Schroeder, has received particular attention. At the start of the trial there were 18 jurors, but the judge gave each juror a number and had Rittenhouse randomly pick 6 to leave the jury, a practice that is practically unheard of. The judge also dismissed a less serious charge against Rittenhouse: that he was carrying a firearm openly, even though, as the New York Times reported, minors are not allowed to possess firearms unless in the event of a dire situation, and he was only 17 at the time .
The “not guilty” verdict greatly affected people all around Philadelphia. As reported on cbslocal.com, one man said, “It’s a horrible thing all around. It wasn’t all that surprising given the way the laws are written. It appears that the verdict may be correct, not that the situation was.” Andrea Custis, president and CEO of the Urban League of Philly, told reporters, “I am saddened and I am angry and I think I represent so many people. That is the epitome of white privilege. You have said to this Black community in Philadelphia ‘please don’t forget that we have two judicial systems again—one for black folks and one for white folks.’ And this was absolutely an affirmation of it today” (al.com). The Rittenhouse trial upset and disappointed many people, not only in Philly, but also in our own community.
I interviewed two different people who are a part of our community that are also black. First, I interviewed Tammara Gary, the associate director of Agnes Irwin’s admissions. I first asked her how the case made her feel, and she responded, “I felt sad, but hopeful that the [Rittenhouse] trial can bring to light the inequities in our justice system.” Then I asked her if she believed the case was racially motivated, and she said: “This trial was about the victims who died at an anti-racism protest, so it’s difficult to say ‘no’, regardless of the races involved.” Lastly, I asked her if she believed that the verdict should have been different, and she said: “Justice demands ramifications that discourage this from happening again, and I don’t see any.”
Next, I interviewed Khiya Salley ‘25. In response to how the case made her feel, she commented that, “the case was a double standard. For instance, if there was a Black man in this same situation it would have been a completely different outcome. I feel this way because Kyle Rittenhouse clearly was in the wrong. He left his home where he was safe, and didn’t have to defend himself from anyone, traveled a distance with a firearm,” and “he had an intent to use it to harm someone at a peaceful, legal protest. And, he was underage which means that he shouldn’t have had a gun in the first place. We can all see that he was going looking for trouble.” She also stated that, “Yes, this was definitely racially motivated. It was a Black Lives Matter protest against police brutality and the unjust shooting of unarmed black people. He came there looking to hurt someone, Black or white. Someone fighting for the cause.” Finally, Salley articulated that, “Yes, the verdict definitely should have been different. Kyle Rittenhouse should have gotten some jail time because he could have gone about his day and minded his business. He killed two innocent people who had families, friends, and who were just exercising their right to protest. They weren’t looking to hurt Kyle Rittenhouse, he was just looking to hurt them.”
