500 Wisconsin National Guardsmen on standby as Rittenhouse trial comes to close

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) said Friday that over 500 Wisconsin Army National Guard troops are reporting for state active duty as the homicide trial for Kyle Rittenhouse comes to a close. 

In a statement, Evers said the guardsmen will stage outside of Kenosha to respond if requested by local law enforcement.

The governor said the state continues to be in close contact with local authorities to “ensure the state provides support and resources to help keep the Kenosha community and the greater area safe.”

Rittenhouse is on trial for six criminal charges in connection with the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and the injury of Gaige Grosskreutz.

The teen fatally shot the two men and injured the other on Aug. 25, 2020 during protests that were sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake. A police officer shot Blake, a Black man, several times in the back while he was attempting to enter his vehicle. The injuries he sustained left him paralyzed. 

The 18-year-old took the stand in his trial on Wednesday, during which he argued that he opened fire to protect himself from potential violence. His testimony was at times emotional when he began crying while describing the events that led to him shooting Rosenbaum.

Closing arguments in the case will begin Monday, after which jury deliberations will begin.

Evers said the Kenosha community has been “strong” and “resilient” over the past two years, and encouraged those who plan to travel to the area to reconsider. 

“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,” he said. 

Evers previously mobilized the National Guard last year in August after protests erupted following the release of footage from Blake’s shooting online.

In January, the governor mobilized about 500 guardsmen ahead of the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office announcement that it would not bring charges against the officers involved in the shooting.