A new message from your friends at People For the American Way.

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[ [link removed] ]Tell the Justice Department to investigate Kyle Rittenhouse >>

My friend,

Today’s verdict acquitting Kyle Rittenhouse of all charges in the shooting
of three people – two of whom he killed – is a travesty.

From the beginning, we knew that the cards were stacked against justice in
this case – from the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the case
to the shockingly unfair handling by the judge presiding over the case.

Here are the facts: Kyle Rittenhouse crossed state lines and used an
illegally purchased assault rifle to confront racial justice protesters
who had been demonized and made out to be a threat by far-right
politicians, commentators, and media outlets.

The protest that Rittenhouse felt compelled to confront was over the
shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot multiple times by police outside
of a family function. The “threat” perceived by Rittenhouse and the other
armed white vigilantes who took to the streets of Kenosha – many of whom
were associated with the militia movement – was people speaking out
against structural white supremacy and the disregard for Black lives.

The verdict in this case further enables that white supremacy and will be
seen as tacit encouragement by our criminal justice system for
racially-inspired white mob violence – unless we do something about it.

That’s why we’re calling on the Department of Justice to initiate an
investigation of Rittenhouse’s actions. There must be accountability for
white vigilantism aimed at suppressing peaceful racial justice protests.

[ [link removed] ]Please join us by adding your name now to tell the DOJ to investigate
Kyle Rittenhouse's case >>

The facts of this case were clear. But the political climate fostered by
the Trump administration and its white supremacist adherents poisoned the
justice system’s ability to do its job. And the consequences could be
devastating.

We’re an incredibly divided nation, heading into a major national
election, and a verdict such as today’s gives the appearance of condoning
political violence. It can’t be the end of the story.

We can’t bring back the people Rittenhouse killed, or undo the harm to the
man who was injured, but achieving some measure of justice in this case
could prevent the next armed vigilante, motivated by the racist
fearmongering that’s now inescapable in the far-right media landscape and
in the rhetoric of far-right politicians like Trump and his acolytes, from
committing a similar act of devastating violence.

This moment is a test of the deep divisions in our nation. Change is
needed and change can happen, but it demands the full commitment of our
hearts and souls to rooting out systemic racism in our justice system.

The Department of Justice has an important role in making sure America
passes this test.

[ [link removed] ]Please add your name now to join us in calling for a federal
investigation into Kyle Rittenhouse >>

Thank you for doing your part in the fight for freedom and justice.

– Ben Jealous, President

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