The Twitter Files revealed that one of the most important content distribution platforms on the internet had been corrupted by severe <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-twitter-files-release-shows-how-adam-schiff-staffers-harassed-the-company-with-absurd-ban-requests">ideological bias</a>. Leaked documents reveal Twitter staff suspending accounts and tinkering with distribution algorithms for purely political reasons. The Right always suspected Twitter wasn’t a fair forum; the Twitter Files proved it.
The Right has long held similar suspicions about YouTube, which has an estimated monthly user base of <a href="https://www.omnicoreagency.com/youtube-statistics/">2.6 billion</a> compared Twitter’s estimated <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/303681/twitter-users-worldwide/">368 million</a> monthly users. Critics tend to focus on obvious acts of censorship: Banning videos or shutting down channels for no apparent reason other than they offend liberal sensibilities. Alternative video hosting sites like <a href="https://rumble.com/">Rumble</a> have emerged to provide Right-wing and heterodox voices a censorship-free platform, but the audiences for those sites remain a microscopic fraction of YouTube’s.
My company, <a href="https://www.goodkidproductions.com/">Good Kid Productions</a>, has just been victimized by what appears to be a more subtle means of YouTube censorship, a way for the site to shut down dissident voices under the guise of “community safety.”
Late last year, our channel released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzAMjU14z4w">documentary</a> investigating two famous viral incidents centered on Kenosha, Wisconsin: The summer of 2020 shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man, by a white police officer, and, in the midst of the subsequent violent BLM riots, the killing of two people by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thats-when-i-knew-they-didnt-have-a-case-rittenhouse-details-critical-moments-of-trial">Kyle Rittenhouse</a>, a teenager who came to Kenosha with an AR-15-style rifle to help protect private businesses.
For the first four weeks after its release, the video was untouched by YouTube management, allowing it to steadily rack up views. Then, suddenly, in late December, without warning, YouTube designated the video as “<a href="https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802167?hl=en">age-restricted</a>.” 
This is supposed to be a yellow-card punishment. Videos get slapped with this designation for violating “community guidelines,” vaguely defined rules supposedly intended to prevent violent, sexual, dangerous, or otherwise inappropriate content from polluting the platform. The “age-restricted” designation doesn’t fully nuke the video: It gets to stay up, but under restrictions that, in theory, simply prevent it from reaching an underage audience.
In practice, age restriction is a death knell: The video can’t be embedded on external websites; viewers have to sign in before they can watch it; and it receives scant – if any – boost from YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, which is a crucial source of views.
A documentary deconstructing the media’s coverage of a police shooting and the resulting mass riots is, admittedly, going to contain some mature themes. But all the “mature” visuals come from publicly available news pieces that are themselves available unrestricted on YouTube. The violence isn’t graphic. It’s the sort that might make PBS News. There’s no blood, guts, or sex, and there’s just a single use of profanity (by a BLM activist). And YouTube’s community guidelines explicitly carve out exceptions for news pieces, which is exactly what our documentary is.
The original age restriction notification did not specify what part or parts of the video were problematic, so we were left to guess how to fix it. YouTube has native editing tools that allow channel managers to modify videos after they’ve been published. We used them to blur out some gun violence and then formally submitted an appeal, which is supposed to be overseen by a flesh-and-blood human being.
On January 1, we received a reply from “Emman” at YouTube support informing us that “a human reviewer re-evaluated your content and determined that it does violate our Community Guidelines. We know this is probably disappointing news, but it&#8217;s our job to make sure that YouTube is a safe place for all.” 
That’s it for the explanation. Emman didn’t provide specifics. He (she? it?) didn’t tell us what triggered the original designation or what doomed our appeal. Presumably, YouTube gets thousands of appeal requests every day. We’re not expecting a detailed report; we just want to know what specifically the human reviewer saw that made them rule to retain the restriction.
We responded by asking what specific parts of the video would need to be modified to drop the restriction. On January 12, Emman replied: “I understand that you would like to blur out your video, and have them [sic] be reviewed again. Unfortunately, if the video is already reviewed by our internal team the decision is final regardless if the video is edited or not.”
And that’s it. There is no next step. Views on the video have dropped to a trickle. It’s been shared by several large social media accounts, each with millions of followers, but the age restriction is a traffic choke point, substantially squeezing down the audience generated by those shares.
There’s no definitive proof this restriction is political, but it’s hard not to be suspicious. Our documentary deconstructs the lazy, leftist lies about race and police that saturate Silicon Valley. What would a Twitter Files-like revelation of the internal communications of YouTube reveal? How many of these restriction decisions are arbitrary? And how many are driven by an agenda?
Rob Montz, co-founder and CEO of Good Kid Productions. His latest online documentary is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzAMjU14z4w">The Broken Boys of Kenosha.</a>
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Portable Technology Photo

YouTube Restricted Our Kyle Rittenhouse Documentary. We Still Don’t Know Why.

Big Tech

Jacob Blake

Kenosha

Kyle Rittenhouse

Readers Pass

Silicon Valley

YouTube

Five schools in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, have moved to virtual learning for the rest of the week as the city anticipates protests in the wake of a verdict in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. 
The five schools, Brass Elementary, Frank Elementary School, Harborside Academy, Reuther Central High School, and Washington Middle School, were all closed Thursday as a safety precaution because of their close proximity to the Kenosha County Courthouse, where the trial is taking place, according to <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/five-kenosha-schools-going-virtual-because-of-kyle-rittenhouse-trial/38284958">WISN 12 Milwaukee</a>. 
&#8220;While we have not been advised of any existing imminent danger, we feel this is the best course of action to protect our students and staff during an uncertain time,” the Kenosha Unified School District said in a message to parents, via WISN. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to receive support as needed in the days and weeks ahead.” 
The schools will remain closed Friday and over the weekend.
The move comes as protests escalated outside the courthouse as the city, and the nation, brace for the verdict. The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-protesters-promise-to-shut-it-down-if-kyle-is-acquitted-noise-heard-inside-courtroom">reported</a> Tuesday that some protesters gathered outside the courthouse, chanting “no justice, no peace,” and “If Kenosha don’t get it, shut it down,” among other slogans. The commotion reportedly could be heard inside at times. 
The <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/18/kenosha-schools-anticipate-unrest-shift-to-virtual-learning/">New York Post</a> reported further escalations by protesters Wednesday. According to the Post, a protester was arrested after he attempted to steal the sign of a pro-Rittenhouse demonstrator, then punched and body-slammed a journalist who attempted to intervene. The Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/17/kyle-rittenhouse-jurors-return-for-day-2-of-deliberations/">further</a> reported that another physical altercation broke out between the same two individuals shortly afterward. Both the man and another protester were arrested. 
A video posted by WISN 12 showed protesters and media reporters outside the county courthouse surrounding a Kenosha Police van as officers arrested and detained an unidentified protester outside the courthouse. 
The jury is now in its third day of deliberation, having spent most of the day Wednesday asking questions about whether they would be able to view high definition video of the moment Rittenhouse shot Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man shot by Rittenhouse on the night of August 25, 2020.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kenosha-braces-for-kyle-rittenhouse-trial-verdict">activated</a> 500 members of the National Guard to render support to local law enforcement, in anticipation of violent protests. 
“We continue to be in close contact with our partners at the local level to ensure the state provides support and resources to help keep the Kenosha community and greater area safe,” said Gov. Evers. “The Kenosha community has been strong, resilient, and has come together through incredibly difficult times these past two years, and that healing is still ongoing. I urge folks who are otherwise not from the area to please respect the community by reconsidering any plans to travel there and encourage those who might choose to assemble and exercise their First Amendment rights to do so safely and peacefully.”

Closing Arguments In Trial Of Kyle Rittenhouse

Kenosha Schools Close For Rest Of Week As Rittenhouse Verdict Looms

Wisconsin

After the first day of jury deliberation, family spokesperson Dave Hancock stated that Kyle Rittenhouse is “staying strong” and “positive,” noting that the Rittenhouse team does not believe anything can be inferred from the jury’s deliberation time at this point. A verdict is expected soon.
Regarding the jury and whether they expect a fair trial, Hancock expressed some concern that it was “impossible [for potential jurors] to not consume media” about the case before jury selection. Still, the Rittenhouse team feels confident that “a lot of truths that have come out over the past two weeks,” adding “there&#8217;s a lot of things said about Kyle that just were fundamentally untrue and the truth has come to light since then.”
While stopping short of making any bold predictions about the case, Hancock did say he believes the prosecution may have made a real misstep in changing their narrative over the course of the trial. “They went through three different versions of what their case was throughout this trial and we’re hoping the jury noticed that, and we believe they did.”
Hancock was emphatic that the Rittenhouse team was encouraged to see certain details come to light that he says were previously misrepresented in the media. After a year of silence, Rittenhouse himself was “itching” to speak on the witness stand. “He’s never been afraid to go on the stand because that is his opportunity to&#8230;say his story.”
In describing Rittenhouse, Hancock states that he “was never a super political kid.” However, in light of the events unfolding over the past year, Hancock now believes Rittenhouse has become more fully aware of the politics surrounding his situation.
“When he was 17, he was a ‘police explorer’ so he supported the police, he was a fire cadet, so he supported the fire department. He never really jumped on the politics train, but the politics train sure as hell jumped on [him]&#8230;He’s seen his image get pushed around and called these horrific names that are not based on anything, so he gets the political aspect of it now&#8230;He’s well attuned to what’s been happening over the past year.”
When asked how Rittenhouse has responded to accusations of racism and white supremacy, Hancock states that “it bothers him deeply, because being called a white supremacist is deeply antithetical to who he is.” The Rittenhouse team has speculated that the timing of the election was a significant factor in the development of certain media narratives relating to race.
When asked directly about Rittenhouse’s rumored association with right-wing militias, Hancock was emphatic that the broadly circulated claims are not factual. “He was never part of a militia, he didn&#8217;t answer a ‘call to arms,’ [he] never visited a page, he didn&#8217;t even know what the term meant.”
As for Rittenhouse, Hancock states, “he is doing well. He&#8217;s ready to get his life started and move past all of this.”

Rittenhouse Spokesperson Speaks Out Ahead Of Expected Verdict

After hours of deliberation on Tuesday in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the jury was sent home without reaching a verdict.
The 12 jurors and six alternates will return back to the courthouse Wednesday morning to continue deliberation.
Notably, on Monday evening, the judge sent the jury home for the night after emphasizing to them they have an obligation to render a fair verdict, not based on his presumed opinion, news media, or comments from President Joe Biden, or his predecessor President Donald Trump.
“The time has now come where the great burden of reaching a just, fair, and conscientious decision in this case will be placed totally with you. You will not be swayed by sympathy, passion, prejudice, or political beliefs. You will disregard any impressions that you may have, which you may believe are my opinion on the guilt or innocence of the defendant,” Schroeder said.
“You will disregard the claims or opinions of any person, news media, or social networking site,” the judge told the jury. “You will pay no heed to the opinions of anyone — even the president of the United States, or the president before him.”
“The founders of our country gave you, and you alone, the power and the duty to decide this case,” Schroeder asserted.
Rittenhouse is on trial for fatally shooting two men and injuring a third during the unrest in Kenosha, last August. The teen has pleaded not guilty to all charges, citing self-defense. Two charges against Rittenhouse &#8212; a gun charge and a curfew charge &#8212; have already been dropped.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-protesters-promise-to-shut-it-down-if-kyle-is-acquitted-noise-heard-inside-courtroom">Report: Protesters Promise To ‘Shut It Down’ If Kyle Is Acquitted, ‘Noise’ Heard Inside Courtroom</a>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-kyle-rittenhouse-picks-his-final-12-jurors-by-pulling-numbers-out-of-a-raffle-style-drum">WATCH: Kyle Rittenhouse Picks His Final 12 Jurors By Pulling Numbers Out Of A Raffle-Style Drum</a>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-prosecutor-lists-numerous-alleged-crimes-of-man-kyle-rittenhouse-fatally-shot-downplays-as-irrelevant" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-prosecutor-lists-numerous-alleged-crimes-of-man-kyle-rittenhouse-fatally-shot-downplays-as-irrelevant&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1635947028054000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2GwOTZzNfxRMsusaJJ_ALU">WATCH: Prosecutor Lists Numerous Alleged Crimes Of Man Kyle Rittenhouse Fatally Shot, Downplays As Irrelevant</a>

Closing Arguments Delivered In Kyle Rittenhouse Trial

Rittenhouse Trial: No Verdict, Jury Sent Home 

The Daily Wire spoke with Jacob Blake’s activist uncle, Justin Blake, outside of the courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday.
Blake has been protesting outside of the courthouse, along with a small group of Black Lives Matter activists who were chanting slogans, as the jury begins deliberation in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/updates-from-rittenhouse-trial-jury-is-out">reported</a>, Jacob Blake was the “man shot and wounded by police while in possession of a knife and resisting arrest in August of 2020, the event which precipitated widespread rioting in Kenosha during which Rittenhouse shot three men.”
The Daily Wire asked Justin Blake why he was there, and he said, “because when you come full circle [with] this thing, it has to do with Jacob Blake. These people wouldn’t have been out in the street without seeing my nephew get shot in the back seven times in front of his children.”
“It brought a tremendous amount of people to the streets. We have to focus on the real issues here,” Blake said, claiming that Rittenhouse &#8220;murdered&#8221; two men he shot and killed during the rioting.
“He had no right lawfully to carry the gun although the judge says he did. He’s a racist, and he’s trying to … let this young man out … . We ask people to continue to watch the video,” he added. 
Blake said he wants to see Rittenhouse go to jail, noting that Rittenhouse was a kid who entered into an adult’s world. He claimed Rittenhouse was “bailed out by the Proud Boys, skinheads, Ku Klux Klan.”
When asked about rioters and looters who set things on fire in Kenosha last year, Blake said he told people if they were burning things at the riots, “you’re not doing it for little Jake.”
Blake criticized Judge Schroeder, specifically due to the judge’s ringtone (“God Bless The USA”), which Blake said was “Trump’s theme song,” but he also had choice words for President Joe Biden, saying “[President Biden] has failed us.”
“We’ve heard nothing from them… We will never, in my life, vote for another Democrat again. We helped flip this state blue. What did we get? What African Americans always get, nothing,” he said, adding that now may be the time to begin thinking about “a third party.”
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kenosha-braces-for-kyle-rittenhouse-trial-verdict">reported</a>:
<blockquote>
Rittenhouse is facing multiple charges in court, including first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and use of a dangerous weapon.
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/just-in-kyle-rittenhouse-gun-charge-dismissed">The Daily Wire</a> reported on Monday, Judge Bruce Schroeder dismissed a gun charge against Rittenhouse, who has “pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming he acted in self-defense.”
</blockquote>
On Monday, Judge Bruce Schroeder “dismissed the jury for the night after telling them they have an obligation to render a fair verdict, not based on his presumed opinion, news media, or comments from President Joe Biden, or his predecessor President Donald Trump,” The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-judge-tells-jury-not-to-listen-to-biden-news-media-trump-sends-jury-home">noted</a>.
“The time has now come where the great burden of reaching a just, fair, and conscientious decision in this case will be placed totally with you. You will not be swayed by sympathy, passion, prejudice, or political beliefs. You will disregard any impressions that you may have, which you may believe are my opinion on the guilt or innocence of the defendant,” Judge Schroeder told the jury.
“You will disregard the claims or opinions of any person, news media, or social networking site,” the judge continued. “You will pay no heed to the opinions of anyone — even the president of the United States, or the president before him.”
“The founders of our country gave you, and you alone, the power and the duty to decide this case,” Judge Schroeder asserted.

344B11E3-FF3B-423F-9D7C-960059CC8060_1_201_a

Activist Uncle Of Jacob Blake Rips Biden: ‘He Has Failed Us’

Judge Bruce Schroeder on Monday dismissed the jury for the night after telling them they have an obligation to render a fair verdict, not based on his presumed opinion, news media, or comments from President Joe Biden, or his predecessor President Donald Trump.
&#8220;The time has now come where the great burden of reaching a just, fair, and conscientious decision in this case will be placed totally with you. You will not be swayed by sympathy, passion, prejudice, or political beliefs. You will disregard any impressions that you may have, which you may believe are my opinion on the guilt or innocence of the defendant,&#8221; Judge Schroeder told the jury.
&#8220;You will disregard the claims or opinions of any person, news media, or social networking site,&#8221; the judge continued. &#8220;You will pay no heed to the opinions of anyone &#8212; even the president of the United States, or the president before him.&#8221;
&#8220;The founders of our country gave you, and you alone, the power and the duty to decide this case,&#8221; Judge Schroeder asserted.
The judge then gave general instructions to the jury, before sending them home. In the morning, at around 9 a.m., the jury will return and begin to deliberate.

Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Continues In Kenosha, WI

Judge Tells Jury Not To Listen To Biden, News Media, Trump; Sends Jury Home

The murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse began last week, throwing the politically fraught case into the national spotlight again as the teen awaits his fate for shooting and killing two men and injuring another during riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin last summer.
The trial has had no shortage of passionate moments so far. The judge and the prosecution have clashed repeatedly, and Rittenhouse broke down in tears when he took the stand on Wednesday. When graphic footage of the shootings was played for jurors, several appeared visibly upset.
Meanwhile, the muddied facts of the case have become gradually clearer, relieving the case of some of the rumors that have plagued it for more than a year.
Rittenhouse <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7047765-Kyle-Rittenhouse-Criminal-Complaint.html">was charged</a> with five felony charges and one misdemeanor charge. The most serious charge is intentional homicide, Wisconsin’s top murder charge, while the others are reckless homicide, attempted homicide, two counts of reckless endangerment, and being a minor illegally in possession of a firearm. He was also charged with violating curfew, but that charge was <a href="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2021/11/09/judge-dismisses-curfew-charge-against-kyle-rittenhouse-as-prosecution-rests-their-case/">dismissed</a> by the judge on Tuesday. He has pled not guilty to all charges.
Rittenhouse, who is now 18, lives in Antioch, a northern suburb of Chicago about 15 miles from Kenosha. Rittenhouse&#8217;s lawyers have <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kyle-rittenhouse-wisconsin-shootings-homicide-gun-politics-fb9a374d697f612a1f09d42d31f0fe77">pointed out</a> that his father lived in Kenosha and he worked in Kenosha County as a lifeguard. On August 25 of last year when he was 17, Rittenhouse decided to patrol the downtown Kenosha area alongside other armed men in order to protect a used car dealership from looting and vandalism. The city had devolved into rioting over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man, by a white Kenosha police officer. 
Rittenhouse armed himself with a Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P15, which is an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle that police say his friend, Dominick Black, illegally bought for him, as well as a medical kit. The gun was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/10/kenosha-dominick-black-gun-charges-rittenhouse/">reportedly</a> kept in a safe at Black&#8217;s stepfather&#8217;s house in Kenosha, and prosecutors acknowledged during the trial that Rittenhouse had not crossed state lines with the gun.
Shortly before midnight, Rittenhouse was accosted by protesters including Joseph Rosenbaum, who threw a plastic bag at him and who Rittenhouse says tried to grab his rifle. At that point, Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum four times, killing him.
The first shooting riled protesters, who chased Rittenhouse until he tripped and fell. A still unidentified man kicked Rittenhouse in the head, and Rittenhouse fired at him twice but missed. Seconds later, another man, Anthony Huber, tried to hit Rittenhouse with a skateboard and grab his gun. Rittenhouse fired at Huber and fatally shot him. At that point, Gaige Grosskreutz approached Rittenhouse with his handgun pointed in the direction of Rittenhouse&#8217;s head, and Rittenhouse shot him too, injuring his right bicep, but not killing him. 
Rittenhouse was arrested and charged the day after the shootings. His friend, Black, was also arrested and charged with illegally supplying a minor with a firearm. 
Legal experts say Rittenhouse&#8217;s self-defense case is strong, but if he loses, the judge in his case, Judge Bruce Schroeder, has a reputation for harsh sentences. However, Schroeder is also known for giving defendants a lot of leeway to make their case beforehand.
Friction between the defense, the prosecution, and the judge appeared even before the trial began.
A week prior to the trial, prosecutors tried to bar the defense from referring to the men Rittenhouse shot as quote “rioters, looters, or arsonists,” but the judge denied that request, saying that the defense may refer to them that way if they provide evidence to support it. The judge also told prosecutors they cannot refer to the men shot as quote “victims.”
The trial began on Monday of last week, and a total of twenty jurors were seated the first day. The twelve jurors who will decide a verdict will be revealed later, the judge said.
&#8220;No one wants to be here,&#8221; one potential juror told the court as jury selection was ongoing. &#8220;It&#8217;s scary. You&#8217;re scared to go to your car, scared to go home.&#8221;
The prosecution called a total of 22 witnesses, some of whom appeared to actually bolster the defense&#8217;s case.
Black, Rittenhouse&#8217;s friend, was the state&#8217;s first witness and testified that he bought Rittenhouse the gun he used in the shootings. He told the court that Rittenhouse had stayed at his house the night before the shootings and that he and Rittenhouse had cleaned up graffiti earlier in the day before the deadly incident. Black also said he saw Rittenhouse provide first aid to someone with a big gash on their hand. After the shootings, Black said he got Rittenhouse to turn himself into police.
Another witness for the state, Ryan Balch, an Army veteran who was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and patrolling the downtown area with Rittenhouse, testified that Rosenbaum was “hyperaggressive and acting out in a violent manner.” Balch said Rosenbaum tried to start a fire and yelled at Balch, “If I catch any of you guys alone tonight I’m going to f—- kill you!”
A key detail the defense emphasized last week was that Rittenhouse was not the one who fired the very first shot. A man named Joshua Ziminski fired one shot about 2.5 seconds before Rittenhouse fatally shot Rosenbaum, Kenosha Police Detective Martin Howard testified last week. Howard is one of the lead police investigators on Rittenhouse’s case.
Richard McGinnis, a video editor for the Daily Caller, took the stand last week as well. Before the shootings, McGinnis interviewed Rittenhouse and trailed him and several other armed men. After Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum, McGinnis rushed to try to save him before he died.
The prosecution suggested to McGinnis that his interpretation of what Rosenbaum was trying to do when he reached for Rittenhouse&#8217;s gun was &#8220;complete guesswork.” 
“Well, he said ‘f*** you’ and then he reached for the weapon,” McGinnis responded.
Another controversial factor that has been brought up in the trial is the backgrounds and criminal records of the men Rittenhouse shot. All three had criminal records. Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the men who Rittenhouse killed, was a registered sex offender <a href="https://kenoshareporter.com/stories/552689330-rosenbaum-raped-five-boys-sentencing-records-reveal">convicted</a> of felony child sex abuse and was accused of molesting or raping five different boys between the ages of 9 and 11. Rittenhouse’s lawyers wanted to argue that Rosenbaum tried to steal Rittenhouse’s gun because as a sex offender Rosenbaum couldn’t legally possess a gun himself.
Anthony Huber, the second man Rittenhouse killed, also had a violent criminal history, defense lawyer Corey Chirafisi told the court. The 26-year-old once &#8220;told his brother that if he didn’t start cleaning a room in his house he was going to gut him like a pig,&#8221; Chirafisi said, adding that Huber also held a six-inch knife to his brother&#8217;s stomach and choked him.
Another detail that attracted attention but was not brought up in the trial is a video of Rittenhouse appearing to punch a teenage girl who was fighting with his younger sister a couple of months before the shootings.
Prosecutors also wanted to show a video from a few weeks before the shootings in which Rittenhouse is heard saying he wished he had his gun to shoot some hooded people seen in the video running out of a CVS Pharmacy clutching items.
The prosecution has also tried to brand Rittenhouse a racist and tie him to the Proud Boys, a right-wing men’s group, but his lawyers deny that Rittenhouse is a member.
Last Thursday, a juror in the trial was dismissed for telling a joke to a deputy at the courthouse a day earlier.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger told the court that his understanding of the joke was that it went something like, “Why did the Kenosha police shoot Jacob Blake seven times? Because they ran out of bullets.” Blake was left paralyzed after he was shot by the Kenosha police officer.
Besides listening to witness testimony, jurors watched more than a dozen videos of the shootings and surrounding events.
Last week, prosecutors wanted to present as evidence surveillance video taken from an FBI airplane above where the riots were occurring.
Prosecutors said the fuzzy, black-and-white infrared video taken nearly 9,000 feet above the ground would show that Rittenhouse chased Rosenbaum before they switched places and Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse. However, Detective Howard testified that it appears Rosenbaum emerged from behind a car to intercept Rittenhouse and appeared to be gaining ground on him.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but this looks like the classic ambush,” Rittenhouse&#8217;s lead defense attorney Mark Richards said. The prosecution objected to that remark, and it was struck from the record.
Prosecutors also wanted to show footage to jurors of an armed Rittenhouse shortly before the shooting from Milwaukee-based outlet TheRundownLive.
The defense objected to the audio of the footage, saying the person who shot the video was “editorializing” in his narration, making it “hearsay” and therefore unacceptable. The video’s narrator repeatedly referred to Rittenhouse and the other armed men near him as a “militia.”
The prosecution argued that the narration accompanying the video helped to illustrate Rittenhouse’s “state of mind” at the time, a suggestion that prompted scoffs from the defense.
“Unless this un-subpoenaed person can read minds, that’s a ridiculous argument. This narrator is going to prove my client’s state of mind? That’s absurd,” Richards said.
Wednesday marked the most dramatic day of the trial so far, with Rittenhouse himself taking the stand.
Binger began quizzing Rittenhouse about his decision to remain silent after the shootings but before the trial, at which Richards objected. Judge Schroeder sent the jury out of the room and raised his voice at Binger as he reprimanded him, telling him that Rittenhouse’s silence is quote, “basic law.”
&#8220;I was astonished when you began your examination by commenting on the defendant&#8217;s post-arrest silence,&#8221; Schroeder said, raising his voice. &#8220;That&#8217;s basic law. It&#8217;s been basic law in this country for 40 or 50 years … I don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re up to.&#8221;
The judge also admonished Binger for bringing up a piece of video evidence that the judge had banned from the trial. Binger had tried to question Rittenhouse about the video in which Rittenhouse talks about shooting the people he thought were shoplifting from a CVS.
&#8220;Don&#8217;t get brazen with me!&#8221; the judge shouted at Binger. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to have another issue as long as this case continues. Is that clear?&#8221;
The judge has also not been thrilled with media coverage of the trial and warned jurors on the first day of the trial that some coverage may be quote, &#8220;irresponsible&#8221; or &#8220;deliberately biased.&#8221;
Rittenhouse defended his actions from the witness stand, breaking down at one point and sobbing as he attempted to describe the moments leading up to the first shooting. The judge called a break to allow him to collect himself.
&#8220;I intended to stop the people who were attacking me,&#8221; he told the court. &#8220;I did what I had to do to stop them from attacking me.&#8221;
The defense began making its case on Wednesday after the prosecution rested its case a day earlier. The trial is expected to last until at least the end of this week.

Rittenhouse2

Everything You Need To Know About The Kyle Rittenhouse Trial

The judge in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse repeatedly admonished the prosecution on Wednesday – at one point yelling at the lead prosecutor – for risking a “grave constitutional violation” during cross-examination of Rittenhouse.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger ran afoul of Judge Bruce Schroeder multiple times while questioning Rittenhouse. The judge scolded, then exploded, on Binger for commenting on Rittenhouse’s pretrial silence, which risked violating the 18-year-old’s Fifth Amendment rights.
Schroeder stopped the trial and sent the jury into a nearby room minutes after Binger had begun his examination of Rittenhouse.
“The problem is this is a grave constitutional violation for you to talk about the defendant’s silence, and that is, you’re right on the borderline. And you may be over, but it better stop,” Schroeder said. “I can’t think of an initial case on it, but this is not permitted.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Judge Scolding The Prosecution In The Rittenhouse Case
“The problem is this is a grave constitutional violation for you to talk about the Defendant’s silence.” 
“You are right on the borderline, you may be over. It better stop.” <a href="https://t.co/OVK9eYOSSm">pic.twitter.com/OVK9eYOSSm</a>
&mdash; The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1458481872967712788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Later on during Binger’s examination, the judge sent the jury out again after the prosecutor began to veer into a line of questioning that Binger did not approve with Schroeder beforehand, and that Schroeder had suggested he would forbid in pretrial hearings. The second infraction brought an explosion from the judge over the first, and Schroeder again ripped into Binger for potentially violating Rittenhouse’s rights protected under the Constitution.
“I was astonished when you began your examination by commenting on the defendant’s post-arrest silence. That’s basic law. It’s been basic law in this country for 40 years, 50 years. I have no idea why you would do something like that! And it gives, well, I’ll leave it at that. So I don’t know what you’re up to,” Schroeder said.
“I have to be concerned that, with what Mr. Richards has said about the progress of the trial when you were way, well, I said you were close to or over the line on commenting on the defendant’s pretrial silence, which is a well-known rule,” the judge later added. “I am astonished that that would have been an issue. So I don’t want to have another issue for as long as this case continues. Is that clear?”
“It is,” Binger replied before the jury was again brought back to the courtroom.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The judge just chewed out Binger again. Wow. <a href="https://t.co/f3fADU2M0A">pic.twitter.com/f3fADU2M0A</a>
&mdash; Benny (@bennyjohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1458488768613294080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier in Rittenhouse’s testimony, Binger had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-grilled-by-prosecutors-says-i-did-what-i-had-to-do">pressed</a> the teen on the actual shootings of the three men, two of which Rittenhouse killed, on August 25, 2020, during a night of riots over the lawful police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man. Rittenhouse claimed that he never intended to kill anyone that night, but he “did what [he] had to do” to defend himself. The exchange went as follows:
<blockquote>Thomas Binger: Everybody that you shot at that night, you intended to kill. Correct?
Kyle Rittenhouse: I didn’t intend to kill them. I intended to stop the people who were attacking me.
TB: By killing them.
KR: I did what I had to do to stop the person who was attacking me.
TB: By killing them.
KR: Two of them passed away, but I stopped the threat from attacking me.
TB: By using deadly force.
KR: I used deadly force.
TB: That you knew was going to kill.
KR: I didn’t know if it was going to kill them, but I used deadly force to stop the threat that was attacking me.</blockquote>

Bruce Schroeder

WATCH: Rittenhouse Judge Stops Trial, Explodes After Prosecutor Risks ‘Grave Constitutional Violation’

Kyle Rittenhouse, charged with five felonies including multiple counts of first-degree homicide, defended his actions to prosecutors on Wednesday, asserting “I did what I had to do.”
Rittenhouse faced examination from his own defense attorney, Mark Richards, for part of the morning before Richards turned his client over to cross-examination by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger. Binger immediately pressed Rittenhouse on why he used deadly force against three men, two of whom died, during riots last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Rittenhouse asserted that he only did what was necessary to protect himself, keep his weapon from being stolen from him, and deter the attackers. Binger’s line of questioning <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si9YXq0A1Vk">began</a>:
<blockquote>Thomas Binger: Everybody that you shot at that night, you intended to kill. Correct?
Kyle Rittenhouse: I didn’t intend to kill them. I intended to stop the people who were attacking me.
TB: By killing them.
KR: I did what I had to do to stop the person who was attacking me.
TB: By killing them.
KR: Two of them passed away, but I stopped the threat from attacking me.
TB: By using deadly force.
KR: I used deadly force.
TB: That you knew was going to kill.
KR: I didn’t know if it was going to kill them, but I used deadly force to stop the threat that was attacking me.</blockquote>
Binger continued to press Rittenhouse on why the teen used his rifle against the men he shot. Binger focused on Joseph Rosenbaum, who Rittenhouse shot and killed as Rosenbaum was lunging toward him potentially attempting to grab the rifle, according to the earlier testimony of a forensic pathologist. Binger continued to claim that Rittenhouse “intended” to kill Rosenbaum.
“I didn’t intend to kill him. I intended to stop the person who was attacking me and trying to steal my gun,” Rittenhouse said. After Rittenhouse’s last answer, Binger moved on to another line of questioning.
Rittenhouse had earlier in the day broken down as he attempted to discuss the moments in which he killed two men and wounded a third on the night of August 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse fatally shot two men during the chaotic and violent riots that shook Kenosha after the lawful police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse broke down in tears as he began to recount shooting Rosenbaum. As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-kyle-rittenhouse-breaks-down-into-sobs-while-testifying-on-stand-recess-called">The Daily Wire</a> reported:
<blockquote>Testifying on the stand Wednesday, Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, broke down into sobs while recalling the fatal shooting of Joseph Rosenbaum.
Rittenhouse, detailing the moments before he fired on Rosenbaum recalled Rosenbaum yelling “burn in hell” to him before Rittenhouse yelled “friendly, friendly, friendly!” in an attempt to calm Rosenbaum. But he was chased.
Rittenhouse described feeling “trapped” by Rosenbaum and another man, identified during the trial as Joshua Ziminski, who fired his pistol in the air. The teen said the man had the pistol pointed at him during the incident.
Before describing his actions to fire, Rittenhouse sobbed uncontrollably and a ten minute recess was called.</blockquote>
Rittenhouse is on trial facing six total charges: five felonies and one misdemeanor. The felony charges are intentional homicide, reckless homicide, attempted intentional homicide, and two counts of reckless endangerment. The misdemeanor charge is underage possession of a deadly weapon.

Kyle Rittenhouse Grilled By Prosecutors, Says ‘I Did What I Had To Do’

After six days of evidence and witness testimony, prosecutors rested their case on Tuesday against Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who shot three men, killing two and wounding another, during violent protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year.
The prosecution concluded its argument by showing drone footage of Rittenhouse allegedly shooting one of the men, Joseph Rosenbaum, in a used car lot in downtown Kenosha.
The drone video, enhanced by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, shows Rosenbaum appearing to chase Rittenhouse into the car lot before Rittenhouse turns around and fires the rifle he was carrying from close range. Kenosha Police Detective Martin Howard previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/friendly-friendly-friendly-man-rittenhouse-shot-kept-chasing-him-despite-alert-he-wasnt-threat-police">testified</a> that Rosenbaum continued to chase Rittenhouse even after he repeatedly told Rosenbaum that he was “friendly.” Howard testified that the calls did not stop Rosenbaum from pursuing Rittenhouse before he was shot. Rosenbaum died from his injuries.
The footage then shows Rittenhouse running away from the lot. Additional cameras captured images of Rittenhouse running down a street, being chased by a crowd after allegedly shooting Rosenbaum. Rittenhouse fell to the ground, where one individual leaped at him, trying to kick him in the head, and another, Anthony Huber, struck Rittenhouse with a skateboard and allegedly reached for Rittenhouse’s rifle. Rittenhouse then shot Huber, killing him.
Another man, Gaige Grosskreutz, approached Rittenhouse with a loaded handgun in his hand. He threw up his hands as if surrendering but then advanced with the gun pointed at Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse fired, severely injuring Grosskreutz’s left bicep. Prosecution witness Jason Lakowski testified that he administered first aid to Grosskreutz. He also said that he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/man-kyle-rittenhouse-shot-had-loaded-handgun-witness-testifies">emptied the magazine</a> from the gun and emptied the chamber, which he observed had a round loaded in it.  Grosskreutz <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/media-headlines-hide-fact-that-kyle-rittenhouses-self-defense-claim-was-made-abundantly-clear-in-court">himself</a> testified that it was only after he pointed the gun at Rittenhouse that he fired the shot which injured him.
Deputy Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Dr. Douglas Kelley was the last witness the prosecution called.
Kelley, who performed the autopsies on Rosenbaum and Huber, testified that Rosenbaum was shot in the hand, thigh, groin, head, and back. The fatal shot entered his back as he was falling forward. Huber was killed by a single bullet to the chest that mortally wounded his heart and lungs. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/prosecution-rests-case-homicide-trial-kyle-rittenhouse/story?id=81053137">According</a> to ABC News, “As graphic autopsy photos were shown, pool reporters in court described Rittenhouse as appearing to intentionally look away from the monitors.”
The defense began presenting its case later in the day. Their first witness, Nick Smith, was a former employee of the used car dealership where Rittenhouse and other armed men were guarding. He testified that the dealership owner called him and asked him to help put out fires in the lot and recruit a group of people to protect the dealership, which had two other car lots in the area. Smith also said that Rittenhouse lent him body armor and guarded the car lot, and that Rittenhouse spoke with him after he shot the three men, telling him repeatedly, &#8220;I just shot someone. I had to shoot someone.&#8221;
Rittenhouse is <a href="https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2020CF000983&amp;countyNo=30&amp;index=0&amp;mode=details">charged</a> with five felonies and one misdemeanor, including two counts of recklessly endangering safety, two counts of intentional homicide, and one count of reckless homicide. A violation of curfew charge was <a href="https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1458145511316230144?s=20">dropped</a> by the trial judge Tuesday.

Prosecution Rests Its Case Against Kyle Rittenhouse

The Kenosha City Council voted 17-0 last week to deny Jacob Blake up to $50,000 in damages after he was shot by police last year.
Blake was shot seven times on August 23 by Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey who was responding to a domestic disturbance call. Blake was armed with a knife and attempting to get into the driver’s seat of an SUV when he was shot.
Blake’s attorney filed a request on March 11 seeking damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and trauma from disfigurement from the shooting. State law caps what a municipality can pay in such cases at $50,000, though Blake’s attorneys filed an itemized statement estimating costs from his injuries at a much higher $776,614.67, according to the <a href="https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/council-denies-50k-damage-claim-for-injuries-in-blake-shooting-federal-suit-against-sheskey-continues/article_7678c7af-1006-5697-9910-4c56cfe4fec5.html">Kenosha News</a>.
The claim Blake filed could be the initial step of a lawsuit against the city for the $50,000 payout. Blake has already filed a federal lawsuit against Sheskey over the shooting. It is unclear whether Blake will file suit against the city, as well.
“The federal civil rights suit is being pursued, and the potential state claim, essentially the same cause of action with caps on damages, would be superfluous of it. We are considering options,” Blake’s legal team said in a statement.
In his suit against Sheskey, Blake argues that officers used excessive force and endangered the lives of his children, who were in the SUV at the time. As the Kenosha News reports:
<blockquote>Both the federal suit and police account have agreed upon facts, including that Blake was walking away from officers while carrying a knife and trying to get into the car while two officers, Sheskey among them, followed with guns drawn. Police have said that Blake did not follow orders and was climbing into the driver’s seat of the SUV and had quickly “twisted” toward them while holding a knife. The lawsuit, however, claims that Blake never threatened the officers.</blockquote>
Officers have been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-acted-within-the-law-officer-who-shot-jacob-blake-returns-to-work">cleared</a> of any potential misconduct in the Blake shooting and Sheskey resumed work for the Kenosha Police Department in March after being placed on administrative leave.
“The Kenosha Police use of force incident on August 23, 2020 was investigated by an outside agency; has been reviewed by an independent expert as well as the Kenosha County District Attorney. Officer Sheskey was not charged with any wrong doing,” Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said in a statement announcing Sheskey’s return to the force.
“He acted within the law and was consistent with training. This incident was also reviewed internally. Officer Sheskey was found to have been acting within policy and will not be subjected to discipline,” Miskinis continued.
“As of March 31, 2021, Officer Sheskey has returned from administrative leave. Although this incident has been reviewed on multiple levels, I know that some will not be pleased with the outcome; however, given the facts, the only lawful and appropriate decision was made,” he concluded.
Blake’s shooting last year sparked riots in Kenosha in the wake of George Floyd’s death in May. Damage from the riots <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-kenosha-city-owned-property-sustained-2m-in-damages-mayor-asks-for-30m-riot-relief">cost</a> residents and the city together millions of dollars.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walsh-before-you-honor-jacob-blake-as-a-martyr-read-the-criminal-complaint-against-him">WALSH: Before You Honor Jacob Blake As A Martyr, Read The Criminal Complaint Against Him</a>

Kenosha Courthouse

Kenosha City Council Votes 17-0 To Reject Jacob Blake’s Claim For Damages From Police Shooting

Ben Crump is an American attorney who specializes in civil rights and personal injury cases, such as wrongful death lawsuits. In recent years, his practice has increasingly focused on accusations of police brutality.
As a result, Crump routinely appears as one of the central figures in high-profile cases regarding alleged police brutality and so-called “systemic racism.”
However, time after time, Crump has — either intentionally or unintentionally — spread misinformation regarding his cases, often with disastrous consequences.
Here is a list of times when Crump effectively promoted misinformation regarding high-profile cases of alleged &#8220;racial violence.&#8221;
Michael Brown
In 2014, Crump helped propagate the false “hands up, don’t shoot!” narrative following the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
&#8220;Regardless of the decision of the grand jury, this will be a defining moment in the history of the state of Missouri,&#8221; <a href="https://archive.ph/20141119005842/http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/11/13/michael-baden-grand-jury-testimony/18959707/#selection-4347.0-4351.125">said</a> Crump, while it was being determined whether charges should be filed against Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson.
Crump also said at the time that he and others believed &#8220;there is evidence that shows Michael Brown had his hands up.&#8221; He was asked if there&#8217;s any doubt, and Crump responded, &#8220;there&#8217;s no doubt about that.&#8221;
Barack Obama’s Department of Justice, headed by Attorney General Eric Holder, decided that this version of events was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/haworth-biden-kamala-ignore-obama-biden-administrations-own-findings">untrue</a>, finding in its exhaustive investigation of the case that witness accounts and forensic evidence overwhelmingly indicated that Brown did not hold up his hands and surrender.
“As detailed in its famous <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1681212/doj-report-on-shooting-of-michael-brown.pdf">final report</a>, Obama-Biden administration ultimately concluded that all the available evidence painted an entirely different story than the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/03/16/lesson-learned-from-the-shooting-of-michael-brown/">racially charged narrative</a> that sparked the Ferguson protests and riots. The administration found that evidence indicated that Brown assaulted Officer Wilson, attempted to steal his firearm, and then charged at him,” reported <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/haworth-biden-kamala-ignore-obama-biden-administrations-own-findings">The Daily Wire</a>.
Breonna Taylor
Weeks after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/myths-misconceptions-about-the-breonna-taylor-case">Breonna Taylor</a> was “shot and killed by plainclothes police officers who raided her Louisville, Kentucky, home” in March 2020, Crump tweeted, “Louisville Police fatally shot #BreonnaTaylor. They had the wrong address AND their real suspect was already in custody. 2 months later, no one has been held accountable for her death…but we will change that!”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Louisville Police fatally shot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreonnaTaylor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreonnaTaylor</a>. They had the wrong address AND their real suspect was already in custody. 2 months later, no one has been held accountable for her death&#8230; but we will change that! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JusticeForBreonnaTaylor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JusticeForBreonnaTaylor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SayHerName?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SayHerName</a> <a href="https://t.co/wytTAozY5l">pic.twitter.com/wytTAozY5l</a>
&mdash; Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1259867794239258628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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As noted by The Daily Wire, “the post contained at least four incorrect or misleading statements about the case that still influence the national discussion today.”
The officers who raided Breonna’s home were not at the wrong address, the purpose of the raid was to find evidence and not to arrest “their real suspect,” they did knock before entering the apartment, neither Walker nor Taylor were in bed when police entered the apartment, and Taylor was not shot eight times.
George Floyd
After the death of George Floyd, Crump called for “first-degree murder charges” to be leveled against Derek Chauvin.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The police were supposed to protect and serve George Floyd. They FAILED. Now I’m calling for first-degree murder charges in the police-involved killing of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeorgeFloyd?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GeorgeFloyd</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JusticeForGeorgeFloyd?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackLivesMattter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackLivesMattter</a> <a href="https://t.co/CI0W3QIz9N">pic.twitter.com/CI0W3QIz9N</a>
&mdash; Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1269758805576949760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.185">Minnesota</a>, first-degree murder requires both intent and premeditation, meaning that Crump believes that Chauvin set out that day planning to kill George Floyd.
Crump made this claim in a piece for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/29/george-floyd-death-benjamin-crump-jasmine-rand">The Guardian</a> in May 2020, writing, “The video evidence clearly shows that the officers acted with the intent to kill and with premeditation. Floyd told the officers he could not breathe 12 times, including within the first few seconds of the video.”
Video evidence showed that Floyd complained of breathing difficulties both while they attempted to place him in the police car, and when he was detained on the ground outside the car.
Jacob Blake
Sharing initial footage, Crump reacted to the shooting of Jacob Blake.
“Wow. This Black man was shot several times in the back by [Kenosha Police] today. He was getting into his car after apparently breaking up a fight between two women. He’s in critical condition now. We demand JUSTICE!” Crump tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Wow. This Black man was shot several times in the back by <a href="https://twitter.com/KenoshaPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KenoshaPolice</a> today. He was getting into his car after apparently breaking up a fight between two women. He’s in critical condition now. We demand JUSTICE! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackLivesMatter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackLivesMatter</a> <a href="https://t.co/I1reDEp4nw">pic.twitter.com/I1reDEp4nw</a>
&mdash; Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1297721479711334401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to an audio recording of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-authorities-release-the-911-recording-that-jacob-blakes-ex-girlfriend-made-to-police">911 call</a> that was made, Jacob Blake’s ex-girlfriend, Laquisha Booker, “reported that Jacob Blake would not give her back the keys to her rental vehicle and she was afraid he was going to take that vehicle and crash it. She reported he had done that before. So now police know there’s a vehicle in dispute, Jacob Blake already has the keys, and the concern is will he crash that vehicle in an effort to leave.”
According to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/this-is-why-jacob-blake-had-a-warrant-out-for-his-arrest/">New York Post</a>, Blake had an open arrest warrant at the time for felony sexual assault, with Blake’s ex-girlfriend alleging that he “used his finger to sexually assault her, sniffed it and said, ‘Smells like you’ve been with other men.’”
After violently resisting arrest, Blake was shot while reaching into his car, and later admitted that he was in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-wisconsin-doj-finds-jacob-blake-had-weapon-on-floorboard-of-car">possession of a knife</a>.
Regardless of the facts of the case, riots ensued in Kenosha, Wisconsin, causing damage <a href="https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/damage-due-to-rioting-unrest-in-kenosha-tops-50-million-2-000-guard-assisted-here/article_26473ec9-c08a-5490-9d09-cc2b840b65f1.html">estimated to exceed</a> $50 million.
Daunte Wright
Crump claimed that the reportedly accidental shooting of Daunte Wright — the man killed after resisting police who were attempting to arrest him on <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/daunte-wright-had-outstanding-warrant-for-attempted-aggravated-robbery-when-he-was-killed">charges</a> related to an armed robbery attempt — was deliberate. The officer who shot Wright now faces second-degree manslaughter charges.
“You can spot the difference between a gun and a taser from a mile away! Do you really think a 26 year veteran cop would get the two confused, especially after holding it out infront of her for so long?! The shooting of [Daunte Wright] was NO accident,” he tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
You can spot the difference between a gun and a taser from a mile away! Do you really think a 26 year veteran cop would get the two confused, especially after holding it out infront of her for so long?! The shooting of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DaunteWright?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DaunteWright</a> was NO accident. <a href="https://t.co/cDO3imnGw2">pic.twitter.com/cDO3imnGw2</a>
&mdash; Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1382827826651357187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ma’Khia Bryant
Most recently, Crump responded to the police shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant in Columbus, Ohio.
“As we breathed a collective sigh of relief today, a community in Columbus felt the sting of another police shooting as [Columbus Police] killed an unarmed 15yo Black girl named Makiyah Bryant. Another child lost! Another hashtag,” Crump tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
As we breathed a collective sigh of relief today, a community in Columbus felt the sting of another police shooting as <a href="https://twitter.com/ColumbusPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ColumbusPolice</a> killed an unarmed 15yo Black girl named Makiyah Bryant. Another child lost! Another hashtag. ✊🏾🙏🏾<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JusticeForMakiyahBryant?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JusticeForMakiyahBryant</a> <a href="https://t.co/9ssR5gfqm5">https://t.co/9ssR5gfqm5</a>
&mdash; Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1384667861642358785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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According to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-rush-to-declare-that-makhia-bryant-was-unarmed-proves-that-narrative-matters-more-than-truth">video footage</a> released soon after the event by the police department, Ma’Khia Bryant was armed with a knife and was in the active process of attacking a potential victim.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WARNING, GRAPHIC: Columbus Police show body cam footage of officer shooting, killing knife-wielding teen girl &#8211; <a href="https://t.co/627TrzbD9n">https://t.co/627TrzbD9n</a> <a href="https://t.co/bW6wgWlFsb">pic.twitter.com/bW6wgWlFsb</a>
&mdash; Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1384721705004933122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/ighaworth">@ighaworth</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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