Police departments prepare for fallout from Rittenhouse verdict
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[November 18, 2021]
By Kevin Bessler
(The Center Square) – The Illinois State
Police and suburban police departments are on alert as a jury
deliberates in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial.
Rittenhouse, from Antioch, Illinois, claimed self-defense when he shot
three men, killing two of them during violent protests in Kenosha,
Wisconsin after police shot a Black man.
Rittenhouse is white, as are the three men he shot. The case raises
questions about racial justice, policing, firearms and white privilege.
Rabbi Michael Ben Yosef with the group Chicago Activist Coalition for
Justice is in favor of a guilty verdict in the case.
“When you pull your gun up to incite violence, you forfeit that call
that claims self-defense,” Yosef said.
His organization is planning a peaceful protest in Chicago after the
verdict is read.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday he is satisfied the state is prepared
if there is any unrest following the verdict.
“Our public safety officials for the state of Illinois, state police in
particular, but our coordinators have been in regular discussions not
only with the city of Chicago but also with northern suburbs that border
Wisconsin to make sure that we are providing the support that they
need,” Pritzker said.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks at an event on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021.
Courtesy of Facebook
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Pritzker said at this time, the Illinois National
Guard is not being called up.
“The National Guard sits one iteration behind state police because
National Guard generally speaking are not trained to do crowd
control, they’re trained to go to war,” Pritzker said.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers previously announced that 500 Wisconsin
National Guard troops would wait near Kenosha to deal with any
issues once a verdict is announced.
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