What Kyle Rittenhouse’s Acquittal Says About America’s Criminal Justice System
Kyle Rittenhouse, an 18-year-old white male who shot three men, killing two and injuring the third, Gaige Grosskreutz (age 28), during a police brutality protest in Wisconsin last year — despite claiming self-defense and that the men attacked him.
The first man Rittenhouse shot, Joseph Rosenbaum (age 36), resulted in Rittenhouse being charged with first-degree reckless homicide, which carries a 60-year sentence, plus an additional 5 years for the use of a dangerous weapon. The Rosenbaum shooting resulted in the second count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and use of a dangerous weapon. This charge is punishable by 12 ½ years in prison plus an additional 5 years for the use of a dangerous weapon. Rittenhouse’s third count was for the same charge, the assault and murder of Anthony Huber (age 26). The fourth count Rittenhouse was charged with was first-degree intentional homicide as well as use of a dangerous weapon as a result of Huber’s death following the attack; this could have resulted in a sentence of up to 65 years in prison. The sixth count was possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 years of age; Rittenhouse was 17 at the time of the shooting. Finally, Rittenhouse was charged with a seventh count of failing to comply with a state or local government emergency order for being out on the streets after 8 p.m., an offense imposed by the city mayor.
Now with all these overwhelming charges, you may think that Kyle Rittenhouse would be spending his life in jail, but instead, he was acquitted of all charges.
Defense attorneys were able to persuade the jury in two weeks of testimony and provide evidence that Rittenhouse was terrified on the night of August 25, 2020, essentially using that as justification for his actions. The jurors deliberated over the case for about 27 hours over the course of four days before concluding Rittenhouse was not guilty on all five counts, ultimately believing his version of events that night.
This case has far-reaching implications for America’s racial divide and the country’s dysfunctional criminal justice system. This revealed that some people justified the case by claiming that it was within Rittenhouse’s second amendment rights, while others claim that the fact that he was acquitted of all charges sends the message that it is acceptable to bring serious weapons to protests or counter-protests. How did Rittenhouse escape prosecution after two people died and another was injured as a result of his actions?
Hubers parents are heartbroken and angry over the acquittal and say,
“Today’s verdict means there is no accountability for the person who murdered our son. 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”
This trial became a huge focal point for national attention due to the way Kyle Rittenhouse was treated respectfully by the police and his encounter with law enforcement especially due to the severity of his crime. It raises the question, how much does the criminal-legal system uphold white supremacy and systemic racism?
There is overwhelming evidence that systemic racism plays a role in the criminal justice system in America. It can be found in policing and profiling, juries and jury selection, the death penalty, the school-to-prison pipeline, incarceration, solitary confinement, bail, and a variety of other situations.
According to a 2015 study on the impact of skin color in the criminal justice system, black men receive 270 days longer sentences on average than white men for similar crimes, with the difference between whites and blacks being 400 days. When it comes to federal gun crimes, black people are more likely to be imprisoned and sentenced to longer terms. There have been numerous cases where a black man has been accused of having a firearm and is shot and killed on sight or incarcerated illegally.
Kyle Rittenhouse killing two people and having all charges dropped only serves to highlight America’s flawed justice system.
