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Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Rittenhouse trial, political activist prosecutors want to frame the trial in liberal terms. The judge isn't playing that game.

Men shot by Kyle Rittenhouse during Kenosha protests can be called "rioters," "looters" and "arsonists" at trial, judge rules

A Wisconsin judge laid out the final ground rules this week on what evidence will be allowed when Kyle Rittenhouse goes on trial next week for shooting three people during a protest against police brutality, ruling he'll permit testimony from the defense's use-of-force expert and on how police welcomed Rittenhouse and others carrying guns during the demonstration.

The hearing was likely the last before Rittenhouse goes on trial Nov. 1 for the shootings during chaotic demonstrations in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, two days after a white police officer in that city shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, in the back while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Rittenhouse, 18, of Antioch, Illinois, was among a number of people who responded to calls on social media to take up arms and come to Kenosha to respond to the protests. Rittenhouse, who is white, is charged with homicide and other crimes in the fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, all also white.

Rittenhouse's attorneys want use-of-force expert John Black to testify that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Prosecutors have asked Judge Bruce Schroeder to block Black's testimony, arguing that jurors don't need an expert to understand what happened that night.

Schroeder told the attorneys that Black wouldn't be allowed to testify about what Rittenhouse was thinking when he pulled the trigger or whether he definitively acted in self-defense.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said if Schroeder allowed Black to testify only about the timeline of events that night he wouldn't call his own expert to the stand. Defense attorney Mark Richards agreed to the deal.

Schroeder denied Binger's request to bar the defense from referring to Rosenbaum, Huber and Grosskreutz as "rioters", "looters" or "arsonists." The judge said those terms would be allowed if the defense can produce evidence showing that's what they were.

Binger asked Schroeder to bar a video that shows police telling Rittenhouse and other armed militia members on the streets that they appreciated their presence and tossing Rittenhouse a bottle of water. The prosecutor said the video would transform the trial into a referendum on police procedure that night when it isn't relevant.

"This is a case about what the defendant did that night," Binger said. "I'm concerned this will be turned into a trial about what law enforcement did or didn't do that night."

Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi argued the video shows that police felt Rittenhouse wasn't acting recklessly. Binger countered that the shootings happened after Rittenhouse interacted with the police, but Schroeder decided to allow the video.

"If the jury is being told, if the defendant is walking down the sidewalk and doing what he claims he was hired to do and police say good thing you're here, is that something influencing the defendant and emboldening him in his behavior? That would be an argument for relevance," the judge said.

Many conservatives have flocked to support Rittenhouse, calling him a patriot and making him a symbol for gun rights and raising $2 million for his bail. Others, including some liberals and activists, portray him as a domestic terrorist and say he made a volatile situation worse.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-trial-ground-rules-evidence/

Rioters. Looters. Arsonists. No mention of histories of domestic violence and sexual misconduct, or sex offender registry status. Just rioters, looters, and arsonists.

From an email from Rittenhouse's legal team -

BREAKING: We just had another big win in court as the judge slapped down the prosecution's blatant attempts to downplay the heinous acts committed by the men who brutally attacked Kyle last summer.

Here's one key exchange verbatim:
Prosecutor: "If there were any evidence in this case that Mr. Rosenbaum physically attacked anyone else that night, chased anyone else that night...we can talk about that. But I don't hear any evidence to that effect. All we're talking about is arson..."

Judge: "I can't believe some of the things you're saying. All we're talking about is arson? C'mon!"
These political activists masquerading as prosecutors are really trying to make the case that looting and burning down a city is no big deal. My God.

Here is the fact they will never sweep under the rug...

Kyle was in Kenosha to offer first aid and help save lives, and the men he defended himself against were there to loot, destroy and create mayhem. And that's exactly what they did.

The judge's decision was right, and with just days to go before our November 1 trial, momentum is on our side.

Help us us keep fighting with an urgent donation. We haven't hit our $300,000 goal and we're running out of time. Please donate now >>

Thank you for your commitment. You're the only reason we're still standing, and with your continued support we are going to win this case.

– Team Kyle

Rioters. Looters. Arsonists. I'll bet that arson crap will go over big with jurors. Some of them probably live in, or near, Kenosha. Maybe they depend on the shops that were destroyed. Maybe they go into town every day, and see the destruction wrought by these rioters, looters and arsonists. Not victims, but violent sons of bitches intent on destroying a town, and beating, maiming, or even killing innocent bystanders.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12500090/kenosha-riots-worker-beaten-looter-jacob-blake/

Sick moment Kenosha looters attack elderly store worker protecting business amid riots over Jacob Blake shooting

Read that article, then tell me again who the victims were. Rioters are most certainly not victims.