Judge Rules Men Rittenhouse Shot in BLM Riot Cannot Be Referred to as ‘Victims’

Gabriel Hays | October 26, 2021
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In an interesting development in the criminal case of Kyle Rittenhouse -- the teenage boy who shot Black Lives Matter protesters in what appeared to be self-defense during 2020’s Kenosha Riots -- the judge ruled that the prosecution will still be barred from referring to the dead and injured men as “victims.”

The judge stated that it’s “too loaded” a term to use for these gentlemen for a fair trial and that it would be “too prejudicial” toward Rittenhouse.

The Chicago Tribune reported this eye-opening news on October 26, writing that among the rules set for the murder trial of Rittenhouse on October 25, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder said that the word “victims” may not be used for the people killed and injured by Rittenhouse.

However, the terms “rioters” and “looters” could be used if it was proven over the course of the trial that the men engaged in such criminal acts.

Rittenhouse, who was 17-years-old when he shot three men (killing two of them) at the infamous race riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020, pleaded not guilty to murder charges. 

Rittenhouse claimed he acted “in self-defense” when he “fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz” during the riots, the piece stated. 

Many conservatives can probably recall the harrowing footage from that night, as Rittenhouse ran from several people who appeared to be participating in the riots. In the graphic video, Rittenhouse is seen shooting three separate people with his “AR-15-style rifle” as they approached him.

One allegedly tried to hit him with a skateboard and another appeared to have a handgun as they approached Rittenhouse before he shot them. After the shooting, Rittenhouse can be seen running towards police officers. 

In earlier rulings, Judge Schroeder had stated that “victims” wasn’t an appropriate designation. On October 25, he reaffirmed this, saying, “The word victim is a loaded, loaded word.”

Though, again, Schroeder stated it would be fine if Rittenhouse’s defense lawyers referred to the men Rittenhouse shot as “rioters” and “looters” or criminals in general if it were proven during the case they were engaging in such activity.

The Tribune wrote, “Schroeder indicated he would allow evidence of bad behavior that night by the men Rittenhouse shot because it could speak to how dangerous they would have seemed to the teen.”

Rittenhouse's prosecutors insisted that this represented a double standard on the part of the judge. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said, “The terms that I’m identifying here such as rioter, looter and arsonist are as loaded, if not more loaded, than the term victim.”

In addition, Judge Schroeder ruled against the prosecution’s “request to block any evidence that law enforcement provided water to vigilantes” like Rittenhouse on the night of riots. There is some video depicting cops thanking Rittenhouse for his help prior to the fatal incident. 

Evidence that cops were supportive of Rittenhouse that night would provide insight during the trial of “Rittenhouse’s mindset,” explained the judge. 

These are the last pre-trial rulings before the trial’s jury selection on November 1. Thankfully, it sounds as if the judge isn’t out to completely nail Rittenhouse.

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