The acquittal [of Kyle Rittenhouse] revealed a gap in the law that California should address. Rittenhouse exacerbated an already volatile situation by bringing his AR-15 into a curfew zone. A curfew is imposed by a state or local government when officials believe that restricting public access to a particular area is necessary to protect life … Read more
[W]hich acts of violence are considered legitimate self-defense has always been highly political. For most of American history, white men alone had a right of self-defense that included both their persons and property. Although the concept of armed self-defense is not inherently racist in the abstract—many 1960s civil-rights figures bore arms when not protesting—in practice … Read more
A jury in Kenosha, Wisconsin has found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts he was facing. The verdict reflects the flimsiness of the case against Rittenhouse, the ineptness of the prosecution during the trial, and the courage of the jurors in the face of enormous pressure and clear attempts to intimidate them. Rittenhouse was … Read more