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Kyle Rittenhouse
AP
A jury has found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts - sparking right-wing celebrations on line.
Rittenhouse fatally shot two people and wounded a third last year during a protest last summer in Kenosha, Wisconsin after the death of Jacob Blake at the hands of police brutality. The defense and prosecution gave closing arguments Monday and the jury began deliberation Tuesday.
The 18-year-old was charged with counts of intentional, reckless, and attempted homicide and reckless endangerment as well as a misdemeanor charge of possessing a firearm as a minor and a curfew violation charge, both of which were dismissed prior to today.
Rittenhouse burst into tears and was held by his lawyers after the jury finished reading its verdict.
Kyle Rittenhouse breaks down in tears as the jury announces that they found him not guilty on all counts: https://t.co/49xSxUVfae— Washington Free Beacon (@Washington Free Beacon) 1637346042
Following Rittenhouse’s acquittal, Judge Bruce Schroeder thanked the jurors and said that he "couldn't have asked for a better jury to work with."
“I think without commenting on your verdict... the verdict themselves, just in terms of your attentiveness and the cooperation that you gave to us justifies the confidence that the founders of our country placed in you," he said.
He concluded: “Thank you so much, and after four years you're eligible for service again. It would be my pleasure to work with you. Thank you."
Since news of the verdict broke, conservatives have flocked to Twitter to celebrate, with the phrase “God Bless Kyle” becoming trending on the platform.
Screenshot of Twitter’s trending topics after Rittenhouse’s verdict was read.Twitter.
See reactions below:
I hope Rittenhouse bankrupts all of you dirtbags in media who smeared him as a white supremacist. I hope he ruins y… https://t.co/j0dKMgUuM9— Matt Walsh (@Matt Walsh) 1637347291
Everyone should be happy with the #KyleRittenhouse verdict not because OF the verdict, but because the media, socia… https://t.co/oHstzJYWV5— Nicole Arbour (@Nicole Arbour) 1637348648
The next Congress must pass legislation proclaiming November 19th “Kyle Rittenhouse Day,” a new Federal Holiday— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@Rep. Anthony Sabatini) 1637346157
Not guilty was the correct verdict. Anyone with a prefrontal cortex who had watched the trial for more than 30 seco… https://t.co/yfr2fNyzDD— Ben Shapiro (@Ben Shapiro) 1637346725
Kyle Rittenhouse is INNOCENT! https://t.co/DsZyTQPqqE— ACTforAmerica (@ACTforAmerica) 1637347629
I will donate money to Kyle Rittenhouse so he can sue the CRAP out of corporate media. https://t.co/bVAekXWN9D— Glenn Beck (@Glenn Beck) 1637347083
Justice has been served!! Not guilty!! God is good!!! #KyleRittennhouse— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1637346219
This is bigger than Kyle Rittenhouse,. This is where the tide starts to change. The decent people of this country a… https://t.co/MxAtWZrHng— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1637346452
God Bless You Kyle Rittenhouse! https://t.co/FxPEvfd6qi— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸) 1637345770
Kyle Rittenhouse did nothing wrong. Is social media still gonna ban people for saying that now? 😂— Lauren Chen (@Lauren Chen) 1637346282
It’s a good day in America. I’m happy Kyle received a fair trial. I pray for his safety and his mental health. I fe… https://t.co/Bh6PcWZ499— Mel 🔥💛 (@Mel 🔥💛) 1637346332
Congratulations, Kyle Rittenhouse. Now, sue everybody.— Kyle Becker (@Kyle Becker) 1637346269
SUE THEM ALL, KYLE. EVERY LAST ONE. #KyleRittenhouse #NotGuilty https://t.co/j7EUcfscUs— Candace Owens (@Candace Owens) 1637346428
NOT GUILTY. Kyle Rittenhouse is free. The criminal mob corporate enterprise that is masquerading as a movement co… https://t.co/IL43jipHYh— Candace Owens (@Candace Owens) 1637346200
Joe Biden needs to publicly apologize to Kyle Rittenhouse.— Tom Cotton (@Tom Cotton) 1637346259
Notably, the phrases “disgusted” and “not surprised” are trending on the social media platform in relation to the news.
Screenshot of trending topics on Twitter after the verdict was announced.Twitter.
One person summed up her disgust at the spectacle of Rittenhouse being hailed as a right-wing hero perfectly.
“100% unsurprised about the Rittenhouse verdict, but still sickened by the whole affair -- and most of all disgusted by how the right as cheered him on as a hero. It's one thing to believe he met the bar for self-defense. It's REALLY another to believe what he did was laudable,” Jill Filipovic wrote.
100% unsurprised about the Rittenhouse verdict, but still sickened by the whole affair -- and most of all disgusted… https://t.co/n7EHHbG7Jc— Jill Filipovic (@Jill Filipovic) 1637346441
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