The Kenosha protest started in the aftermath of the police department announcement that justified the shooting of Jacob Blake. Rioting incidences were witnessed in Kenosha, Wisconsin and other places in the United States as an added part of the Black Lives Matter movement. As an addition to the marches, demonstrations, street protests and the shooting also started the 2020 American athlete boycotts.
Although Peaceful National Guard Called In Kenosha
The Kenosha protest were identifiable by daily peaceful demonstrations which were later followed by powerful confrontations with the law enforcement departments and riots at night. On August 23, 2020, a state of emergency was declared and the National Guard was assigned duty on the next day.
Armed White Protesters Arrive
The confrontations became more futile after some armed militia members who were described as vigilantes by the County Sheriff David Beth arrived. The militia members claimed that their main aim was to protect the businesses in the City area.
Kyle Rittenhouse Shot 3 Unarmed Protesters
Later on August 25, 2020, two active protesters were fatally shot dead and another one was badly injured by a 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse from Antioch, Illinois. The 17-year-old boy was charged with first-degree murder alongside other charges. The boy’s attorneys later said that the shooting was an act of self-defense.
No Evidence of Rittenhouse Being Threatened
From video it is shown that no one had approached, threatened or was anywhere near Rittenhouse. In an open area of the road, with no one around him he knelt down on one knee. He aimed his military rifle carefully and shot several times. He killed two people by shooting them in the head. And wounded a third.
Unfounded Accusations
During the Kenosha protests it was stated that one of the protesters who was shot had a handgun. That does not seem to have any basis in fact. According to those in the crowd, everyone said all three victims had been singing and holding up signs, nothing more.
Rittenhouse Victims are Named
The two who were killed during the protests were Joseph Rosenbaum 36 and a resident from the silver lake by the name Anthony Huber 26 years old. The injured protestor was Gaige Grosskreutz 26 a resident of West Allis.
National Guard Leaves
On August 26th, 2020, were more peaceful protests with sidewalk art in a park and chants near the courthouse. There was no visible presence of National Guard troops. There were cries in the whole of the Kenosha area as residents. The residents claimed that their homes and businesses were under attack. They all wanted additional of more teams from the national guardsmen.
Residents Homes Harmed by White Counter Protesters
No homes were harmed, except by the police and armed groups of white counter protesters. No reports of Black Lives Matter protesters actually causing damage or destroying people’s homes were filed. But there were calls that said they were. There didn’t seem to be any protesters who had destroyed any homes, from the residences who called police reporting damage.
