A protest held in Kenosha, Wisconsin drew dozens of people Sunday (Nov. 21) afternoon, according to Chicago’s WGN-TV. The protestors — who felt Kyle Rittenhouse’s acquittal was an injustice — held a rally at Civic Center Park, and retraced the steps the then 17-year-old took the night in August 2020 when he fatally shot both Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and injured Gaige Grosskreutz.
Rosenbaum’s fiancée Kariann Swart attended the march and spoke to WGN-TV about her grievances. “The biggest thing that I want to say is that it feels like that these men that died, their lives do not matter and they do matter,” she said. “There are loved ones that are left behind that are grieving them right now and we have no closure to that, none whatsoever.”
“I’m just asking that everybody please remember their names,” Swart continued. “Please remember their names because Jojo and Anthony meant something to people and they’re gone.”
Reverend Jesse Jackson was supposed to join protestors, which included members of his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, however the organization said the iconic civil rights activist met with congressional leaders to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to review Rittenhouse’s case.
Bishop Tavis Grant, the national field director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, told the outlet that the protests on the ground are just the beginning of what several social justice organizations have planned following the contentious trial. “This is a sad day and sad moment in American history,” Bishop Grant said. “Because we know in a capitalistic society, capital makes a difference… There will be basketball games shut down. There will be football games shut down. There will be disruption.”
WGN-TV reported that the civil rights leaders in attendance also mentioned they plan to announce the details of a formal boycott within the next few days. The outlet also stated that there were several armed counter-protestors who gathered near the rally and a person drove by shouting, “justice was served.”