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Protests after Rittenhouse’s acquittal
After the acquittal in the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, violent riots broke out in the USA, for example here in Portland in the US state of Oregon. Almost 15 months after the violent protests in the US city of Kenosha, the acquittal put an end to a high-profile trial. A jury ruled that the then 17-year-old defendant Rittenhouse had acted in self-defense. During the unrest in the workers’ city on August 25, 2020, he shot three demonstrators with an assault rifle, two of whom died. The riots were triggered by a white police officer being shot in the back of the African-American Jacob Blake, who has been paraplegic since then. The Rittenhouse case made waves in the United States and divided the country during election campaign times. The then President Donald Trump had taken Rittenhouse under protection. In contrast, his rival, the later election winner Joe Biden, had demonstratively sought contact with Blake. Biden expressed concern after the acquittal, but also said the verdict must be respected and he urged demonstrators to remain peaceful.
A jury had come to the verdict that the then 17-year-old defendant had acted in self-protection. During the unrest in the working-class town of Kenosha on August 25, 2020, he shot three demonstrators with an assault rifle, two of whom died.