Over the past few weeks, the nation witnessed on trial, questions that sit at the heart of our democracy. Is it possible, in a country founded upon the premise of freedom and justice, to uphold equal justice before the law and the value of all life? Is the right to protest truly a right guaranteed to all, or is it reserved for those that don’t question the racist tenets upon which this country’s systems were founded?
Injustice prevailed again today in the Kenosha County Courthouse with a verdict that is clearly a misrepresentation of justice and continues to support oppressive systems based in white supremacy.
Public Allies strongly and decisively condemns this verdict. Until our nation redesigns its inherently racist systems, this will continue to happen. We demand change.
We stand with the victims who were murdered on Aug. 25, 2020: Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, who lived in Kenosha County. And with Gaige Grosskreutz, a medic from West Allis, Wisconsin who was shot in the arm and survived.
Our hearts go out to their families and to our Public Allies family in Kenosha County and Wisconsin who are holding so much pain and anger during this time. As a nation, we are being continuously called to action, to stand against white supremacy and to show up to protect all Black lives; today is no different.
“Our Wisconsin Allies are hurt and angry. They are disappointed in a system that disregards Black lives and those who protect Black lives,” says Nanis Rodriguez, Executive Director of Public Allies Wisconsin. “We will continue to hold space for our Allies and our communities in times like these, and will continue to push against a system that was not made for us, and that works tirelessly to erase us. We will not be erased, we will not be placated, we will continue to rage against white supremacy.”