Statement on the Verdict of the Kyle Rittenhouse Trial
"GW College Democrats express their outrage and disgust at the not guilty verdict reached in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. While the verdict is disheartening, it is not surprising. The United States has a consistent history of upholding white supremacy. The criminal justice system was BUILT on a foundation of white supremacy to SUBJUGATE communities of color. The United States was, is, and will continue to be a racist country if we do not dismantle the racist and oppressive practices of the legal system. The criminal justice system was created to protect white murderers such as Kyle Rittenhouse from facing the consequences of their actions. In contrast, Black Americans are often wrongly convicted and given harsher penalties than their white counterparts. Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly five times the rate of White Americans. The Rittenhouse trial demonstrates that whiteness is the worst form of qualified immunity. This nation must confront the ugly truth that justice is rarely served for communities of color.
"Individuals who call themselves "allies" are in many cases the most oppressive. Not all allies participate in this behavior, but the people who posted a black square and attended a march but have taken no further action are only hurting the cause. Reposting and retweeting does not constitute being an aware, conscious, and dedicated ally to communities of color, especially Black communities. A true ally is someone who confronts bias, educates themselves and those around them, and actively amplifies marginalized communities. You cannot claim to be an ally unless you fully understand and are committed to dismantling the racist practices that have plagued our Criminal Injustice System for far too long.
"White supremacy is very present in our legal system. All of us, especially white people, must be proactive in combating the systemic issues in this system. We must elect and appoint judges and prosecutors who share that vision instead of racist out-of-touch ones as in the Rittenhouse trial. Make sure you know how your judiciary is chosen, and donate to the Mahone Fund, which does work on social justice issues in Kenosha."
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