On Tuesday, a protest grew outside the Kenosha, Wisconsin, courthouse where jurors worked to determine a verdict for the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen who shot three people during the 2020 riots in what he claims were acts of self-defense.
Fox News spoke with several demonstrators taking part in the protest about what will ensue if the jury finds the defendant not guilty.
One protester who was leading chants against Rittenhouse, said, “We hope it won’t cause violence.”
Other protesters carried signs reading “Killer Kyle must not go free” and photos of the rioters who were killed.
Another protester asserted that violence will come from Rittenhouse supporters if he is acquitted.
“If he’s acquitted, you’re going to have these idiots [Rittenhouse supporters] out here doing stupid s—,” she said, adding, “Us Black people that live in Kenosha, us Brown people that live in Kenosha are going to be blamed for that.”
Additional video of the growing protest posted on Twitter showed one demonstrator wearing a Black Lives Matter sweatshirt calling for people to “shut it down” if Rittenhouse is acquitted.
“If Kenosha don’t get it, shut it down,” he shouted.
A pro-Rittenhouse demonstrator told Fox News that he believes the defendant will be acquitted, but said he is “worried about Kenosha because I don’t want to see nobody hurt.”
“I am for peaceful protesting. I am for free speech,” he said. “I am here to support Kyle Rittenhouse because I’m a constitutionalist, I believe that he defended himself.”
Also on Tuesday, the Kenosha Sheriff’s Department released a statement saying that local law enforcement, including the Kenosha Police Department, “understand and recognize the anxiety surrounding the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.”
“Our departments have worked together and made coordinated efforts over the last year to improve response capabilities to large scale events. We have also strengthened our existing relationship with State and Federal resources,” the statement read. “At this time, we have no reason to facilitate road closures, enact curfews or ask our communities to modify their daily routines.”
Late last week, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers authorized the deployment of at least 500 National Guard troops to Kenosha to support law enforcement efforts related to the trial.
The release specifically noted that troops “may not be used to impede the ability of people to peacefully protest” or prevent the media from reporting.
Closing arguments in the trial concluded late Monday and the jury was instructed to return at 9 a.m. CST on Tuesday — two weeks after the trial began — to begin deliberations. The jury could return a decision on Tuesday to decide the fate of Rittenhouse, who faces five charges, including intentional and reckless homicide.
