| Activists and progressive-leaning people of color denounced today's Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal, Axios' Russell Contreras reports. The big picture: The verdict comes as federal criminal justice reform is at a standstill — and racial tensions between Black residents and police are festering amid rising crime. - President Biden said in a statement, "we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken," and he called on protesters to avoid violence and property destruction.
Defense lawyers argued Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and injured Gaige Grosskreutz, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020. - The prosecution argued Rittenhouse was the aggressor and provoked the "entire incident" that led to the shooting, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez notes.
⚖️ In the courtroom, Rittenhouse wept as the jury read the not guilty verdicts on all five charges, including two for first-degree homicide. - Outside the courthouse, Rittenhouse supporters faced off with relatives of Jacob Blake, the Black man whose shooting by a white policeman touched off the unrest that drew Rittenhouse to Kenosha.
- On one side, a sign said: "KILLER KYLE." On the other, a "FREE KYLE" poster had a post-verdict exclamation mark added after "FREE," along with the words: "THE USA IS STILL WORTH DEFENDING."
CNN went live to the steps to interview Justin Jacob, uncle of Jacob Blake, who said, "The nation that you live in now isn't the nation … we used to live in." - As the groups began exchanging insults, including profanity, the correspondent hurriedly tossed back to the studio.
Go deeper: Activists denounce Rittenhouse verdict | 
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