After Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all charges for his involvement in the Kenosha, Wis. shootings last year, members of Hollywood spoke out, calling the verdict “hollowing” and saying that “the system defeated true justice, once again.”
During the summer 2020 protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Rittenhouse shot and killed two men and injured another with a semi-automatic rifle. He faced several charges, including first-degree reckless homicide and use of a dangerous weapon, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide. During the trial, Rittenhouse and his lawyers argued that he acted out of self-defense as a response to one of the victims, Joseph Rosenbaum, throwing a bag at him. The jury saw more than a dozen videos documenting the protest and shooting, and the trial became as assessment of whether or not Rittenhouse’s actions were considered “reasonable.”
The trial became national news as the jury deliberated for 26 hours over four days, and judge Bruce Schroeder made headlines for his conservative stance and banning MSNBC from the courthouse.
Members of Hollywood, including George Takei, Josh Gad, Roxane Gay and more, took to social media to voice their frustrations with the trial.
“Justice denied is a body blow to our national psyche. On trial was not only a killer, but a system that continues to kill. Today that system defeated true justice, once again. But mark these words: We will never stop fighting for what is right and just,” wrote Takei.
Justice denied is a body blow to our national psyche. On trial was not only a killer, but a system that continues to kill.
Today that system defeated true justice, once again. But mark these words: We will never stop fighting for what is right and just.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 19, 2021
“I knew Rittenhouse would be acquitted but it is gutting to witness the inevitable, to know there will be no consequences for the judge, and to know Rittenhouse and others like him will be more emboldened to be openly white supremacist vigilantes. It’s hollowing,” wrote Gay.
I knew Rittenhouse would be acquitted but it is gutting to witness the inevitable, to know there will be no consequences for the judge, and to know Rittenhouse and others like him will be more emboldened to be openly white supremacist vigilantes. It’s hollowing.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 19, 2021
See more reactions below.
Terrifying day in America. #RittenhouseVerdict
— Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) November 19, 2021
The judge KNOWINGLY. I REPEAT KNOWINGLY worked this for a not guilty verdict.
— Prentice Penny (@The_A_Prentice) November 19, 2021
Seems at this point we can drop two of the colors in the American flag
Or maybe we already have
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) November 19, 2021
wanna be a supreme court justice
wanna murder 2 people & not go to jail better
1) cut some onions
2) be white(MUSIC CUE: “Cherry Pie”)
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 19, 2021
It has now been put it out there that vigilantes can just go and kill people protesting issues like racial equality whenever they want and get away with it. Think about that for a second.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 19, 2021
Big day for killers.
— Derek DelGaudio (@derek_del) November 19, 2021
America, your legal system is a dumpster fire. pic.twitter.com/Wam20Q1cVb
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) November 19, 2021