Following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, 17-year old, Kyle Rittenhouse, fatally shot two people and wounded another person at a protest in Kenosha, Wis. on August 25th. Rittenhouse is facing charges for murdering two people.
Kyle Rittenhouse’s attorney, John Pierce, says his client acted in self-defense.
Johanna E. Foster, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Sociology, said, “Obviously, Rittenhouse, like all of us, is afforded the assumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. I do think the video images we have of Rittenhouse, similar to the images we have of police officers blatantly using deadly force on unarmed civilians, makes for a real challenge in proving his innocence for folks willing to put politics aside.”
Foster then continued with, “That said, I think what is also important to raise up is that it a justice system that is truly equitable would give people of color the same presumption of innocence in cases, big or small, that is, rightfully so under the law, being afforded to Rittenhouse right now.”
Foster said that if Rittenhouse is acquitted from his charges, she predicts that serious social protests would occur.
“What I find equally disturbing is how we have found ourselves in a society where a 17 year-old kid who is too young to legally own a firearm nonetheless shows up as a counter-protestor at a racial justice rally with an assault weapon,” said Foster.
Ralph G. Cuseglio, Assistant Professor of Social Work, said that Rittenhouse getting support from people, especially President Donald Trump, is a prime example of the divisiveness in our country right now.
“It’s unlikely that Trump cares about Rittenhouse or his actions. It’s more about how Trump’s support, or lack-there-of, plays politically,” said Cuseglio. “Many Trump supporters are staunch defenders of the 2nd amendment and respond favorably to his tough, law and order rhetoric. Trump failed to condemn Rittenhouse because he does not want to alienate his base.”
Agreeably, Joseph Patten, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science, explained that Rittenhouse is part of Trump’s “political tribe”.
“Trump has identified Rittenhouse as part of his political tribe, and like most tribes, people in those tribes tend to stick up for each other,” said Patten.
Cuseglio believes that those who “support” Rittenhouse do not truly support Rittenhouse himself. “He’s a convenient poster boy for their ideology,” said Cuseglio.
Cuseglio then explained how he does not believe that Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense. “I think it’s a tough case to prove self-defense based on what’s been shared with the public. However, there are things about the incident we just do not know for sure,” said Cuseglio.
Cuseglio discussed how this was not a case of Rittenhouse being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“First, Rittenhouse was not a trained law enforcement officer, not ordered by local, state, or national officials, nor was he privately hired privately to protect any businesses in Kenosha. Second, he was also illegally carrying a firearm according to Wisconsin law, as he is 17. There are decisions leading up to this situation that contributed to two people being killed,” said Cuseglio.
Patten also agrees that this case did not look like it was self-defense. “Based upon the video I saw, that looks to me like murder,” said Patten. “I think you have to look at the intent of what would make a 17-year-old strap on a rifle and drive to another state and feel empowered to have police powers over a political protest. That just strikes me as a bit odd.”
Patten continued, “Of course this will go to court, right, and anything can happen at trial. Everyday guilty people are found not guilty and guilty people are found guilty. So, somebody could have a good lawyer, and somebody could have a bad lawyer. There is no way to predict certainties of what will happen at this trial.”
Sarah Cooper, a senior psychology student and Research Team Lead for the Gender Development Lab, believes his intention going in that night was not to kill, but she believes that his influence had a lot to do with the culture he surrounds himself with.
“He is so consumed with white supremacy and pro-gun rights, and extreme conservative views. I think he genuinely thought he was doing the right thing, and in a sense thought he was fighting back, but in reality, he was not at all,” said Cooper.
IMAGE TAKEN from Kyle Rittenhouse/TikTok via CNN
