So, we have all seen the verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial. The jury and judge found that he is innocent. And while the news brought so much shock, disgust, and anger to so many who were informed, it is not a surprise.
What other outcome could we have expected from a nearly all white jury and judge that insisted Rittenhouse was not a “villain,” but a victim? The reality is the verdict had been decided far before the public heard of it. In the United States, white men do not just get away with murder, but are encouraged to do so and rewarded after the fact.
At the end of the day, Rittenhouse only attended the BLM protests in support of Jacob Blake to incite violence. If you are truly supportive of the movement, then you come equipped with BLM flags, goggles, snacks, signs, and so on, but not a gun. Over 95 percent of protests were peaceful, meaning, that if you bring a gun, your mission is violence, not contributing to peace. Also, if you are the one with the gun, how are you threatened? But, regardless, this trial is about something much more insidious.
Rittenhouse is just one example of many of what white supremacy and the patriarchy has birthed. This trial just demonstrated that not only are white men encouraged to incite violence in the name of patriotism (aka, racism), but they will be rewarded for it. And while this will always be more terrifying for communities of color, it was two white men who were murdered in this instance. It is safe to say that white supremacy is harmful towards everyone.
This is normally the part where I suggest some actionable items, but the reality is, I am still devastated. I understand that justice systems are made to protect whiteness, it is just devastating that it does so to this extent. I am not surprised by the end results of this trial, but it just further perpetuates the violence that is quite literally killing my Black brothers and sisters. And just like all other white men who murder in the name of racism, I know Rittenhouse’s name will be forgotten and he will be afforded a great deal of success, rather than facing the great deal of consequences for murdering two innocent men and injuring another.
I am sending so much love to all BIPOC who are impacted and targeted by these systems and sending so much love to Gaige Grosskruetz and the families of Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum.
