I pledge allegiance to their flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all white men in America who hold the gun to my brothers and sisters in a nation that lays at the premise of inequality, but wears the mask of freedom. 

Nina Simone once said, “I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.”

On August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin 17-year old Kyle Rittenhouse of Illinois walked into a protest due to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed after being shot by a police officer. The same 2020 that was filled with reckless genocide from many people dressed in a blue uniform, ego standing proud, authority lingering over Black men and women’s bodies, gun shattered looking at the undone actions of our bloodline pouring into the streets that our ancestors built. 

Carrying a Smith and Wesson AR-Style semi automatic rifle with a militia group, Rittenhouse claimed he was there to protect property, but what he did was shoot three individuals, killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, claiming self-defense. 

On November 19, 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty for the following charges: first degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first degree homicide, and first degree recklessly endangering safety. Charges that would have been punishable by 12 1/2 years in prison. The weapons modifier carried an additional five years.

Since then, he has been interviewed on Fox News, offered a potential internship by Republican congressman Matt Gaetz and met with former president Donald Trump. 

If reckless murder is defined as the killing of another person by a reckless act, then how is he not guilty of that?  Richie McGinniss, a reporter following Rittenhouse, told investigators he was in the line of fire when Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum. 

America, y’all not done yet? Because I am not. Trayvon Martin, while holding a bag of skittles walking in a hoodie to his father’s home was fatally shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman is also found not guilty. Breonna Taylor while sleeping in her home was shot and killed. Yet again, her murders were found not guilty. Aiyanna Jones was a seven year old girl who was shot and killed by a police officer. Michael Brown, George Floyd, Ezell Ford, Tamir Rice, Jerame Reed, Andree Hill, and Daunte Wright.

Do you need me to continue down the line of horror that this county does to my people? The modern day lynching in America has evolved into our master holding a gun over our head while dictating our death date. The names of listed killers’ all fall under being not guilty for reckless murder. With the exception of Zimmerman, all of these killers have the authority of being a white male with a badge. 

White supremacy continues to live in a corrupt nation. White men in America are continuously found not guilty for the same or less crimes that are held by Black and minority men. According to The Sentencing Project, African-Americans are more likely than white Americans to be arrested; once arrested, they are more likely to be convicted; and once convicted, they are more likely to experience lengthy prison sentences. African-American adults are 5.9 times as likely to be incarcerated than whites and Hispanics are 3.1 times as likely. 

If self-defense was the claim of Rittenhouse, the same should be applied to Chrystul Kizer who has claimed self-defense after killing her adult sexual abuser Randall P. Volar. According to NPR,  Kizer, who was 17 at the time, shot Volar, who had previously been arrested on child sexual assault charges, and set his house on fire and stole his car in 2018.  She is currently out on bond awaiting trial for first-degree intentional murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence.

Kyle Rittenhouse deserves a life sentence. Rittenhouse’s privilege of being a white man in America saved him from punishment for killing two individuals who deserved to live. Rittenhouse had the audacity to smile a big smile because he walked out as an innocent man claiming his life back, which many do not have the chance to get. There was no sympathy, and he will do it again. 

The judicial system is defined as the system of law courts that administer justice and constitute the judicial branch of government. Justice is defined as the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. But justice is only given to the “masters” of this country. 

The fake tears of Rittenhouse spilled disappointment across a nation, because a white man’s pain brings sympathy to the judicial system of the United States of America. The uproar of Black Americans is silenced by white supremacy. 

A white man’s shame of his wrongdoings does not justify his actions.