CCBA Statement On Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict
COOK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION IS OUTRAGED THAT KYLE RITTENHOUSE WAS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS
The Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) is outraged by the results of defendant Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial.
On August 25, 2020—during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man—Kyle Rittenhouse left his home in Illinois and drove to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to engage with the protestors. Rittenhouse, a white male who was 17 years old at the time, brought an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle with him to the protests. While roaming the streets of Kenosha, Rittenhouse eventually shot three people, killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz.
Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18. Shortly before closing arguments, the trial judge dismissed the gun possession charge based on a questionable reading of the relevant statute. Following more than three days of deliberation, the jury found Rittenhouse not guilty of the remaining charges.
As longstanding advocates for justice, CCBA shares the extreme shock, frustration, and disgust of many observers at this outcome. The criminal justice system has failed to hold Rittenhouse responsible for his series of destructive choices that culminated in two deaths. Moreover, the lenience shown to Rittenhouse by both the judge and the jury stands in stark
contrast to how the system has treated countless young Black men and boys. Despite ou collective disappointment, CCBA remains resolute in the fight against injustice and inequality. We will continue to push for systemic changes to make results like that in the Rittenhouse trial less common.
