"Kyle Rittenhouse Has Gotten Away With Murder--as Predicted"
- Rittenhouses acquittal is not a miscarriage of justice, as some might claim. It is our white justice system working as intended.by Elie Mystal, 11/19/2021, The Nation
The verdict is not surprising, if you are familiar with how the criminal justice system works for white people. Wisconsin Judge Bruce Schroeder, who presided over the Rittenhouse trial, consistently made rulings in the best interest of the white gunman. He refused to punish Rittenhouse for violating the terms of his bail; excluded evidence of Rittenhouses behavior before and after the shooting that spoke to his intent and lack of remorse; allowed the defense to mischaracterize the people Rittenhouse killed as rioters; yelled at prosecutors in front of the jury; dismissed an illegal gun charge against the gunman; and had the jury clap for one of Rittenhouses expert witnesses.
Others might want to argue about why Schroeder was biased toward the defendant (I think the judges MAGA ringtones and off-color jokes tell you all you need to know about why he was sympathetic to a white gunman who shot up antipolice violence protesters at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement). But that he was biased towards Rittenhouse was obvious to those watching the trial without blinders.
Still, a sympathetic judge and a predominately white jury are just standard gifts the criminal justice system gives to white boys accused of criminal violence. Rittenhouse also enjoyed hero status among white supremacists and Republicans as well as favorable media coverage from Fox News and The New York Times.
More at link: https://www.thenation.com/article/society/kyle-rittenhouse-verdict/
spicysista
(1,663 posts)I hope to see Elie on someone's show tonight.
cilla4progress
(24,776 posts)for his health. I just mean, he wears his emotions on his sleeve and I imagine he is livid. As we all are and should be.
spicysista
(1,663 posts)I guess that's why I love to hear/read/see him so much. However, you are absolutely correct.
Pinback
(12,170 posts)Bio from the Type Media Center website:
Mystal is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, a former associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, and a lifelong New York Mets fans. One of those things is not like the others. Prior to joining Type Media Center, Mystal was the executive editor of Above the Law. Hes a frequent guest on MSNBC and Sirius XM. He will resist.
He can be followed @ElieNYC.
PXR-5
(522 posts)And most likely win
Prof. Toru Tanaka
(1,983 posts)I'm sure he'd be just great in office.
Prof. Toru Tanaka
(1,983 posts)I don't ever want to have to use one but this is it. My spouse and I are getting a weapon for self-protection.
This verdict is not good,not good at all. There are extremists out there who are going to be emboldened by this.
Stay safe, fellow DUers.
Harker
(14,040 posts)to give pursuit, then turns back to empty a full clip into them.
It'll get uglier quickly. Bloodlust and violent fantasies abound.
You be safe, Professor.
Prof. Toru Tanaka
(1,983 posts)Your second sentence is very true and it is disturbing. There are people out there itching to act out and I feel a lot of it isn't political but simple anger and dissatisfaction with their own lives.
underpants
(182,904 posts)Although I dont know if he got the gun illegally
Pinback
(12,170 posts)- By Danielle Haynes, UPI, Nov. 19, 2021
(SNIP)
County prosecutors said Black told authorities he purchased the AR-15-style rifle Rittenhouse used on Aug. 25 during a protest against police brutality and racial bias that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Authorities say Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, Ill., gave Black the money to buy the gun because he wasn't old enough to buy it himself.
Rittenhouse and Black both told police they volunteered to provide security for a business called Car Source. The owner told police he never asked them to guard his business.
The two allegedly retrieved the gun from the home of Black's stepfather before attending the protest.
Black's stepfather told police he didn't approve of his stepson buying the gun and required it be kept locked in a safe in his home. He moved it to the basement during protests on Aug. 24 and said he wasn't aware the two retrieved it the next night.
- More at link: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/11/19/Man-accused-of-buying-guns-in-Kenosha-Wis-shooting-to-stand-trial/3271605810316/
I've read that supposedly a minor can legally own a firearm in Wisconsin if it's used for hunting. Of course, this was an "AR-15-style rifle" and Rittenhouse ended up hunting humans with it... So we'll see how this one turns out.
underpants
(182,904 posts)notinkansas
(1,096 posts)There is no justice. And there is no peace. And if you complain about that, white people will show up to shoot you. Just like a majority of white people want them to.
I would take issue with that statement. The number of white people who feel that way cannot be in the majority.
But GOD FREAKIN' HELP US. The jury decision is a travesty of such magnitude - I can't even.
Scottie Mom
(5,812 posts)Anyone can shoot and kill you and your family and say it was self-defense and very likely go free.
Fuck those assholes...judge, jury, cops, and most of all Rittenhouse.
Walleye
(31,062 posts)The Lonesome death of Hattie Carroll was what 60 years ago? We just keep going through this stuff over and over for some reason. How many generations of racists since then?
traitorsgalore
(1,396 posts)Just another step in the GOPlague fascist march to power.
doc03
(35,382 posts)can load up their weapons, murder people and get away with it. Only in Murika