Wisconsin Green Party (WIGP) Co-Chair Jo’Nathan Kingfisher said the not-guilty verdict in the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse “is a bright green light that it is open season on political targets.”

Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in the shooting deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, now 28.

The verdict “is a clear message for political vigilantes to go intimidate and instigate, trying to get a reaction and try to kill in the name of self-defense,” Kingfisher said.

Rittenhouse’s “transformation”

After accepting millions of dollars for his defense from right-wingers, law enforcement officials, and gun rights activists, then rushing to give multiple post-verdict interviews to Fox News pundits, Rittenhouse now wants you to believe that he supports Black Lives Matter.

Those millions allowed Rittenhouse’s lawyers to prepare their client well in the year since he brought his assault rifle to Kenosha. Rittenhouse’s refrain has been “I went to Kenosha to protect private property. I brought my gun to defend myself.” He brought first aid equipment to mend wounds, except for those he inflicted.

More injustice from the courts

Ultimately, the criminal court system again failed those seeking justice for people of color in this case. Usually, the scenario is that killers wearing a police uniform walk free after taking the life of a young Black person while claiming a fear of imminent threat.

Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz were three of hundreds present at demonstrations seeking justice for Jacob Blake, paralyzed last summer by a police officer who continues to patrol the streets of Kenosha. Kyle Rittenhouse saw them as a threat.

Contrast the Rittenhouse verdict with the treatment of Chrystul Kizer, who also argues it was self-defense when she killed her adult sexual abuser, set his house on fire and stole his car in 2018.

The Green Party has always been committed to community control of policing and restorative justice instead of a punitive justice system. We still stand with Gaige Grosskreutz, the families of Rittenhouse’s victims and the Black Lives Matter movement.