Distillery 'disheartened' that its Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey being used to 'celebrate' not-guilty verdict — and Twitter crushes 'virtue signaling' company



Not surprisingly, a number of leftists were triggered after a jury agreed that Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he fatally shot a pair of adult males who attacked him — and blew off the bicep of a third adult male who pointed a gun at the teenager's head — amid rioting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020.

However, plenty of others were relieved by the not-guilty verdict and celebrated the fact that justice was done.

But take note: If you've raised a glass in tribute to the exonerated defendant, let the record show that one particular distillery really hopes it wasn't done with its Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey.

Say what?

Seems that Heaven Hill Brands of Bardstown, Kentucky, got word that some revelers have been using its spirit, which happens to share Kyle's surname, to celebrate his not-guilty verdict. And Heaven Hill not only wants it to be known that there's "no connection" between Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey and the court case, but also that the outcome is "no cause for celebration."

"We have been disheartened to learn that some individuals and businesses have been using our Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey brand to celebrate the Kyle Rittenhouse case verdict, despite the profound loss of life from those events," Heaven Hill tweeted.

1/3 We have been disheartened to learn that some individuals and businesses have been using our Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey brand to celebrate the Kyle Rittenhouse case verdict, despite the profound loss of life from those events.
— Heaven Hill Brands (@Heaven Hill Brands) 1637523138

The company added: "There is no link between our Rittenhouse Rye brand, which was started post-prohibition to commemorate Rittenhouse Square, and this case. It is our strongly held belief that in serious matters such as this, where lives were lost and people deeply affected, there is no cause for celebration, but instead deep reflection on how we can make the world a more peaceful and respectful place for all."

3/3 there is no cause for celebration, but instead deep reflection on how we can make the world a more peaceful and respectful place for all.
— Heaven Hill Brands (@Heaven Hill Brands) 1637523166

How did folks react?

As you might guess, many commenters took Heaven Hill to task for unnecessary hand-wringing and "virtue signaling":

  • "I'll celebrate a verdict that reaffirms the American right to self defense all I want with or without your brand," one commenter replied. "The loss of life was caused by the actions of the attackers, not Kyle. This is not a partisan issue, the kid is not a conservative, he was just protecting his town."
  • "Never heard of you until this statement," another user noted. "A boy was arrested, charged, became a man, and tried by a jury of his peers. The jury found him not guilty. That is cause for celebration. As you have requested, I will scratch your brands off of my shopping list."
  • "And I’m on the board for a nice group of restaurants in Tennessee that spent over $175,000 on your products last year, and we are done doing business now," another commenter declared. "Go woke, go broke."
  • "Quit virtue signaling," another user wrote. "I doubt anyone cared whether or not there was a link. They just had the name Rittenhouse on the label and that was enough. This all would have blown over in a few days."
  • "Get ready for a marked decline in all Heaven Hill brands at the largest liquor store in southern Maryland. I can and will make that happen," another commenter warned. "Should have stuck to whiskey. There was no reason to insert yourself into this debate. Enjoy your virtue signaling."

But this quippy response — in reference to convicted chid sexual abuser Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the attackers Rittenhouse shot dead — could just be the outright winner: "Maybe you folks can create a pedophilia line of 8-year-old scotch and call it Rosenbaum to offset your feelings."

Levi Strauss and Best Buy offer counseling to employees distressed over Rittenhouse acquittal, including session with 'racial trauma specialist'



After Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges from the Kenosha shooting, Best Buy and Levi Strauss reportedly offered their employees counseling to those distressed over the verdict. Levi's offered a session with a "racial trauma specialist" for workers distraught over the acquittal of Rittenhouse — who is white — shooting three white men who assailed him.

Elizabeth Morrison — Levi's chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer — sent an email to employees of the San Francisco-based clothing company following the Rittenhouse verdict in Wisconsin.

"With the news that Kyle Rittenhouse was not convicted in the shooting of three individuals — two of whom lost their lives — during racial justice protests last year, this is a difficult day for many," the email read.

"The pain and trauma of race, identity and belief-based tragedies is a reality that many of us are struggling with on an ongoing basis," Morrison stated. "It can feel physically, mentally and emotionally draining to continue to relive these moments, and I want you to know, it's okay to not be okay."

"To help promote safety, sharing and to encourage healing, I'll be hosting a fireside chat and Q&A with Dr. Jamila Codrington, a licensed psychologist and racial trauma specialist in early December," the DEI head wrote. "Dr. J and I will talk about the mental and psychical impacts of back-to-back social and racial justice events and trauma coping mechanisms during our discussion."

Morrison advised employees pained by the verdict to seek a "trained counsel." She also recommended workers use "resources to help [employees] impact social justice, equality and drive positive change," including "getting educated and informed on the issue of gun violence" and "reaching out to your elected officials to let them know just how important common-sense gun laws are to you."

In 2018, Levi Strauss partnered with gun control organization Everytown for Gun Safety and Bloomberg to push for stricter gun regulations.

A spokesperson for Levi Strauss confirmed to Fox Business that the "email was sent to all US employees and that the purpose of the fireside chat is accurately described in the email."

Levi Strauss & Co sent out a notice to their employees offering a therapy session with a \u201cracial trauma specialist\u201d to learn \u201ctrauma coping mechanisms\u201d after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdictpic.twitter.com/9rSXRqZzbN
— Libs of Tik Tok (@Libs of Tik Tok) 1637786866

Best Buy is reportedly also offering "mental health resources" and "counseling services" to employees distressed over the Rittenhouse acquittal.

"The verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial stirs many emotions, and it's another difficult moment for our nation," reportedly wrote Mark Irvin, the chief inclusion, diversity, and talent officer for Best Buy.

"While these events can be challenging and deeply hurtful, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on the values that unite us as a company and as a nation," Irvin said, according to The Post Millennial. "We can do better, as each of us as individuals, allies, and human beings press together for better outcomes."

"I know events like these can take a toll on mental health and emotional well-being," he stated. "Please know that best Buy is here to support you."

Irvin then provided links to "mental health resources" and "counseling services" that are offered by the company's employee benefits.

Best Buy sent out a notice offering their employees counseling services after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdictpic.twitter.com/a3RRmLvmxl
— Libs of Tik Tok (@Libs of Tik Tok) 1637713875

Jen Psaki is asked if Biden will apologize to Kyle Rittenhouse for tying him to white supremacists — and she leaps into spin mode, points finger at Trump



Part of a White House press secretary's job is using spin and deflection in order to avoid answering uncomfortable questions.

Jen Psaki is as good at it as any of her predecessors, and given President Joe Biden's failures and myriad of problems throughout his first year in office, she's gotten quite a bit of practice.

And the Psaki spin-fest was revved up into high gear Tuesday when Fox News' Peter Doocy asked if Biden will "ever apologize to the acquitted Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse for suggesting online and on TV that he is a white supremacist?"

How did Psaki answer?

Check out Psaki's non-answer:

Well, let's be clear what we're talking about here. This is about a campaign video released last year that used President Trump's own words during a debate as he refused to condemn white supremacists and militia groups. And President Trump, as we know from history and as many of you covered, didn't just refuse to condemn militia groups on the debate stage, he actively encouraged them throughout his presidency. So ... what we've seen are the tragic consequences of that when people think it's OK to take the law into their own hands instead of allowing law enforcement to do its job. And the president believes in condemning hatred, division, and violence. That's exactly what was done in that video.

By the way, Biden's campaign video she mentioned uses an image of Rittenhouse carrying his rifle as audio of Fox News' Chris Wallace, the debate moderator, runs over top asking then-President Donald Trump if he condemns white supremacists and militia groups. Here's the tweet:

There\u2019s no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night.pic.twitter.com/Q3VZTW1vUV
— Joe Biden (@Joe Biden) 1601465700

"There's no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night," the tweet's accompanying text stated.

Doocy tried pushing back, arguing that Biden elsewhere incorrectly stated that Rittenhouse was part of a militia group and stating that Rittenhouse accused Biden of "actual malice" in his commentary.

But Psaki kept the spin going and turned her finger-pointing to the "Proud Boys and groups that [Rittenhouse] has posed in photos with. But beyond that I'll leave it to his comments around the verdict."

.@pdoocy: "Will the president ever apologize the Kyle Rittenhouse for suggesting that he is a white supremacist?"\n\nJen Psaki: It's Trump's fault.pic.twitter.com/0Uw0Oig1n6
— MRCTV (@MRCTV) 1637700425

Indeed, Biden's comments following Rittenhouse's trial didn't exactly come across as even-handed, as the president said he was "angry and concerned" over the not-guilty verdict. On Friday he also "declined to share whether he stands by an earlier suggestion that Rittenhouse is a white supremacist," Axios reported.

At the same time support has exploded for Rittenhouse to sue Biden, other elected officials, and media outlets for defamation.

How did folks react to Psaki's spin moves?

Commenters on Twitter were not fooled by the press secretary's words:

  • "She still cannot come out and admit it, of course," one Twitter commenter wrote. "And once again she essentially aligned Rittenhouse in a subtle way with the Proud Boys. Dancing around this issue."
  • "It's sad that half the US & half the world trust sick people like this," another user lamented.
  • "When will this party stand up and take responsibility and quit blaming others?" another commenter asked.
  • "She answered the question by not answering. OF COURSE NOT is the answer," another user declared. "Biden 'bout to make Kyle a filthy rich young man. SUE EVERYBODY, KYLE!"

Whoopi Goldberg declares Kyle Rittenhouse committed 'murder' despite not-guilty verdict, defends Anthony Huber who 'wasn't doing anything'



The co-hosts of "The View" like clockwork Monday jumped on the leftist bandwagon to canonize Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber, and Gaige Grosskreutz, the less-than-savory individuals who attacked Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020 — and they also ripped Rittenhouse as a murderer despite a jury agreeing that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Rosenbaum and Huber and wounded Grosskreutz.

What are the details?

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg, as you might expect, wasn't having Rittenhouse's not-guilty verdict.

She began her soliloquy by playing a clip of Huber's father on CNN holding what appeared to be an urn containing his son's ashes and railing against Rittenhouse going free and being called a "hero."

Goldberg — who described Huber as "one of the young men shot and killed by Rittenhouse" — after the CNN clip insisted Huber "wasn't doing anything" and that he was going after who he figured was "an active shooter."

'To me it's murder'

"He saw someone get shot. He thought he was doing the right thing," Goldberg added. "So ... even all the excuses in the world does not change the fact that three people got shot. Two people were murdered. To me it's murder. I'm sorry."

Despite video evidence that Huber smashed his skateboard against Rittenhouse's head and tried to take his gun — and a jury saying Rittenhouse was not guilty for fatally shooting Huber in the wake of the attack.

'Victim character assassination'

On cue, co-host Sunny Hostin decried what she saw as "victim character assassination" against Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz.

"Rittenhouse didn't know the background of those guys," she said. "He didn't know that one, uh, you know, may have molested a child. Or another one had mental issues."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Wait. Back up. Did you catch those key words — "may have"?

Hostin — who's an attorney, no less — for some reason didn't know Rosenbaum alone had mental issues and was convicted and served time for child molestation. There is no "may have" about it.

She also criticized Rittenhouse for being in Kenosha that night "to protect property — as if property is more important than life." Fortunately for Sunny, it wasn't her property or lifetime of efforts getting torched.

Indeed, prior to Goldberg's pronouncements, Hostin rather dismissively mentioned that in Kenosha "there was a very small group of folks" — yes, "folks" — "that, you know, burned down some buildings, ransacked some stores." No biggie to her, it seemed.

What are the odds?

Here's a question that hasn't seemed to have entered the heads of our friends at "The View" while they defend Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskruetz.

What are the odds that all three of them — who attacked and then were shot by Rittenhouse — have criminal records? And in the cases of Rosenbaum and Huber, some pretty vile stuff?

Oh, and what about the previously unidentified man who took aim at Rittenhouse's head with a jump kick before escaping into the night unscathed? Yup, not unlike his aforementioned comrades, Maurice Freeland hit the streets of Kenosha that night with an extensive criminal record.

When one considers the radical leftist mob they all ran with that night, one might conclude that the odds of past criminal behavior by Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskruetz (and Freeland) is pretty high, indeed.

Nation Divided Over Rittenhouse Verdict? Part 2 | The Viewyoutu.be

Conservative Media is About the FACTS; Mainstream Media is About the FEELS | Ep 391

Conservative Media is About the FACTS; Mainstream Media is About the FEELS | Ep 391

College posts video of student blasting Rittenhouse verdict, accusing him of 'murdering ... two beautiful black lives' — except Rosenbaum and Huber were white



James Madison University on its official Instagram account shared a video featuring a student not only decrying the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case but also accusing Rittenhouse of "murdering ... two beautiful black lives."

Which is quite a feat considering the pair he fatally shot in self defense amid rioting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year — Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber — were as white as Rittenhouse.

What are the details?

Tina Ramirez — founder of religious freedom nonprofit Hardwired Global and a Republican congressional candidate in Virginia, Fox News said — shared the video from James Madison's Instagram page on Twitter.

The video as seen on Ramirez's Twitter page begins with what appears to be an introduction of a student documentary about a "day in the life of Deaquan Nichols." Nichols, a student, narrates the video.

The clip cuts to Nichols decrying last week's Rittenhouse verdict — not guilty on all five counts against him.

"All the protesting, everything we went through in 2020, we really think would make a change, but clearly it doesn't," Nichols said. "We scream 'Black Lives Matter,' but it doesn't matter enough for these people who are in power — the jury, the judge, anybody — to charge this man with murdering and taking away two beautiful black lives at the ripe ages of 26 and 36. It's disgusting."

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @TinaRamirezVA

Nichols doesn't mention the names of Huber and Rosenbaum, but they were the only two people Rittenhouse fatally shot, and they were 26 and 36, respectively. Rittenhouse also shot and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, who testified he pointed a gun at Rittenhouse's head before Rittenhouse shot him in the right bicep. Grosskreutz also is white.

Here's the clip:

JMU is a publicly funded university that is now pushing political propaganda and misinformation from their social media accounts. \n\nJMU\u2019s actions are unethical, as Kyle Rittenhouse was found innocent, and dangerous, as the post pushes false info that could lead to violence. 2/2
— Tina Ramirez (@Tina Ramirez) 1637360228

Ramirez wrote in her Twitter posts that she received the clip from a JMU alum and that the clip is "now deleted." She added that JMU "is a publicly funded university that is now pushing political propaganda and misinformation from their social media accounts" and that the school's "actions are unethical, as Kyle Rittenhouse was found innocent, and dangerous, as the post pushes false info that could lead to violence."

Ramirez added to Fox News that it was "egregious" of JMU to allow the video which broadcasted "blatant misinformation" on the school's Instagram platform.

What did James Madison U. have to say?

A JMU spokeswoman told Fox News that the video in question was part of its "student takeovers" on social media platforms that are "an opportunity for our audiences to learn about student activities and research."

College spokeswoman Mary-Hope Vass added to the cable network that "one of yesterday's takeovers went into the personal opinion and viewpoints of a student, which are not necessarily reflective of the university. The video expressing this opinion was removed from the university's social media account."

Anything else?

The Rittenhouse verdict led to other controversial pronouncements from James Madison University.

The school's department of chemistry and biochemistry said in a pair of Saturday tweets that "it is hard to focus on science if you are worried you might be legally shot or run over at a protest. It is hard to focus on science if you are worried your loved ones might be killed getting Skittles, or selling cigarettes, or playing with a toy gun, or sitting in their apartment, or jogging, or wearing a hoodie," referencing the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Martin once more.

"It's hard to focus on science if you're worried you might get deported or if your human rights depend on the outcome of an election. The fight for justice *is* a fight for science," the department added.

sitting in their apartment, or jogging, or wearing a hoodie. It's hard to focus on science if you're worried you might get deported or if your human rights depend on the outcome of an election. The fight for justice *is* a fight for science. /fin
— JMU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry (@JMU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry) 1637418136

"Yes, we are exhausted, but some people do not have the privilege of bowing out," the department added in another tweet. "So, we must be relentless in our pursuit of a just and equitable society."

The department also shared a video from Peacock channel host Amber Ruffin in which she claimed the Rittenhouse not guilty verdict shows that "the judicial system [is] blatantly and obviously stacked against people of color," Fox News added.

In case you needed to be reminded of this after today's verdict.pic.twitter.com/CufF7l3vtw
— amber ruffin (@amber ruffin) 1637371967

Ramirez fired back against the tweets, telling the cable network that "to see that the school's chemistry department would then double down with more politicized rhetoric is beyond the pale. In their posts they say 'it's hard to focus on chemistry,' but that is literally their job and what parents are paying thousands of dollars in tuition fees expect them to do. This is why I've been so adamant that we need to make school about education again. We should be teaching students how to think critically, not what to think politically."

Google censors searches for Kyle Rittenhouse in the same way it bans Adolf Hitler and the Taliban



A unanimous jury found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all of the counts that he had been facing. Rittenhouse was acquitted of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Despite his proven innocence in a court of law, Google censors Kyle Rittenhouse in the same manner it withholds certain searches for Adolf Hitler and the Taliban.

As of Sunday evening, when you do a Google search of "Kyle Rittenhouse shirt" on the tech platform's shopping tab, you receive a message that states: "Your search — Kyle Rittenhouse shirt — did not match any shopping results."

Oddly enough, right below the message was a paid advertisement from a company selling 20 different Kyle Rittenhouse shirts.

Google Screenshot

It turns out that all of big tech's major search engines are banning Kyle Rittenhouse shirts on their shopping marketplaces, including Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Bing.

However, there is no shortage of the product. A quick Google search finds 29,600 results for the search of "Kyle Rittenhouse shirt."

Google has no issues selling shirts with serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer, the cannibal sex offender who killed at least 17 men in Wisconsin, John Wayne Gacy, who was convicted of murdering at least 33 young men and boys, and Ted Bundy, who raped and murdered at least 20 young women and girls.

On Google shopping, you can purchase clothes featuring Che Guevara, a homophobic and racist Marxist revolutionary; Pol Pot, leader of the Marxist Khmer Rouge that killed more than 1.7 million people through work, starvation, and torture in four years; Joseph Stalin, the Russian communist despot believed to have killed 20 million; and Chairman Mao, the Chinese communist tyrant that killed 45 million in four years.

The big tech shopping platform has no problem selling shirts celebrating Antifa, which contributed to the record-high damages in the 2020 riots. Google also has no issues with apparel praising Rene Boucher, the convicted neighbor of Rand Paul who attacked the Republican senator and broke his ribs in 2017.

Besides Kyle Rittenhouse, the only other search terms that were found to be seemingly banned from Google shopping were "Adolf Hitler," "Nazi," "Taliban," "QAnon," and "Proud Boys."

Protesters angry over Rittenhouse acquittal demand communist revolution: 'The only solution is communist revolution!'



Protesters angry that Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all criminal charges against him gathered in Chicago on Saturday and demanded a communist revolution.

What happened?

Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition led the protest in downtown Chicago. Jackson called the Rittenhouse verdict a "major blow against justice and open season by the violence of right-wing military," according to WBBM-TV.

The protesters reportedly demanded the Justice Department intervene and investigate the Rittenhouse trial because the jury was "mostly white." However, data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that nearly 80% of Kenosha residents are, in fact, white.

Video taken from the rally showed demonstrators parading down Chicago streets with a large sign that read, "Rittenhouse—Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! No Facist USA. Organize Now For Real Revolution." Another sign read, "End The Trump Era. Stop White Supremacy." The crowd was chanting, "If we don't get it— shut it down!" and "No Justice, No Peace!"

Content Warning:Strong language:

NOW - Jesse Jackson leads protest against Rittenhouse verdict in Chicagopic.twitter.com/0S8O9vptou
— Disclose.tv (@Disclose.tv) 1637443546

At one point during demonstrations, protesters began openly calling for a communist revolution.

"The only solution is communist revolution! The only solution is communist revolution! The only solution is communist revolution!" the crowd chanted. "That's right! We need communism. That's what we need. We need that! We need that, sister, we need that very much!"

\u201cThe only solution is Communist revolution\u201d chants here at Chicago\u2019s protest against the Rittenhouse verdict #Chicago #RittenhouseVerdictpic.twitter.com/5JNm0uFXno
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager) 1637445099

Other protesters who spoke to local media voiced frustrations using trite talking points.

"I'm still very, very disappointed. Just a travesty of justice. The illegal gun possession, the Kenosha police basically deputizing him. All of it is based in racism," one protester told WGN-TV.

Another protester told the same outlet the Rittenhouse verdict represents "a green light for more white supremacy vigilante terror."

Can the DOJ do anything?

Despite demands for DOJ intervention into the decision by 12 of Rittenhouse's peers to conclude he acted in self-defense, thereby making him not guilty of committing murder, it remains unclear what the Justice Department could do, if anything at all.

Rittenhouse was never charged with a federal crime, nor did the murder accusations against Rittenhouse invoke violations of federal law.

More from WOFL-TV:

Rittenhouse was not accused of a hate crime and because he is not a member of law enforcement, he cannot be charged with depriving anyone of their civil rights as a federal agent. Rittenhouse was also not accused of a robbery on federal property or involving a federal business.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department's explains on its own website the agency cannot intervene in matters of state law.

"The Department of Justice has no authority to intervene in matters of state law. The Department of Justice can assume jurisdiction only when there has been a violation of federal law," the DOJ website states.

NBA world reacts to 'sick' Rittenhouse verdict; ESPN analyst corrects spreading false information about case



The NBA community has taken a keen interest in the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse — and many have made it a racial issue.

James Cadogan, executive director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, released a statement.

"Our thoughts are with the families of those whose lives were taken in this tragedy," Cadogan said. "The right to peacefully protest is a bedrock of our democracy and the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition remains committed to preserving that right for all. Any forms of vigilantism in our society are unacceptable."

Statement from National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Executive Director James Cadogan on the verdict in Kenosha, Wisconsin.pic.twitter.com/5jjTtssON2
— NBA (@NBA) 1637369612

Golden State Warriors coach and progressive activist Steve Kerr told reporters on Friday, "It wasn't a shocking verdict. But it's one that poses great risk going forward if we continue to go down this path with 'open carry' and states determining that people – even underage people – can carry weapons of war. This is America. We're treading down a dangerous path."

Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said, "Hoping for improvement. Organizationally, just continue to fight for social justice, for better. But at the same time, have to abide by the jury and the decision and the verdict and continue to fight for better."

Bucks' small forward Khris Middleton said the team held a meeting to discuss Rittenhouse being cleared of murder charges by a jury of his peers.

"We talked about [the verdict] a little bit as a team," Middleton said. "Speaking for myself it was definitely disappointing, but at the same time, it really wasn't surprising about the verdict. I watched [the trial] a little bit, and was able to keep up with it, but it's something that I think we've all seen over and over again."

Portland Trail Blazers guard and National Basketball Players Association president CJ McCollum reacted to the verdict by tweeting, "Sick world."

Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash said, "These situations are disappointing. It's important not to become demoralized and for people to continue to fight for the type of justice and equality that serves all."

During the ESPN show "NBA Today," the sports analysts discussed the Rittenhouse verdict for nearly 10 minutes before they talked about basketball.

"We're starting with something that is much more important, a verdict in a courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin," said host Malika Andrews.

She then brought race into the conversation about Rittenhouse — who is white — having shot three white men who attacked him.

Speaking to her fellow hosts — former NBA players Richard Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins — Andrews told them, "We are all black people, and so I wanted to make sure that we created some space for anything that we want to say here before we talk about basketball."

Good God this is embarrassing.https://twitter.com/RealMattCouch/status/1461969185844649986\u00a0\u2026
— Jason Whitlock (@Jason Whitlock) 1637414948

Perkins said the verdict was "mind-boggling."

"I'm not surprised," Perkins said. "It's very disturbing, it's not just a gun, we talking about an AK."

Rittenhouse did not have an AK-47 at the time of the shooting, but rather a semiautomatic Smith & Wesson M&P 15.

Jefferson said, "If you live in America, if know the history of America" then you're not surprised by Rittenhouse's acquittal.

Jefferson pushed the incorrect statement that Rittenhouse crossed state lines with a firearm.

"He was a kid that took a gun across state lines and went and did what he did," Jefferson proclaimed. "And they are saying that is lawful."

To his credit, Jefferson issued a correction to his mistake, something that is rarely done by members of the legacy media.

"I want to address something. I made a mistake during a very emotional time. I said something that was false," Jefferson said on Saturday.

"I have covered very emotional moments in my career from the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd to the tragic death of Kobe and GiGi and the families in the crash," he continued. "I read something that was false. He did not bring a gun across state lines."

"I apologize for this and I will be BETTER. I'm a man and will not hide," Jefferson wrote on Twitter. "I have spoken for 1000's of hours on Television and crucial mistake are rarely made but when they are made they should be addressed."

Jefferson returned to his original point that he believed Rittenhouse should have been convicted.

"The point that I was trying to make is to live in a world where killing 2 people and injuring another has ZERO CONSEQUENCES. That is sending a very scary message," he tweeted. "Thank you and be safe."

Following the typhoon of false narratives about Kyle Rittenhouse by public figures, there is growing support for defamation lawsuits to be filed against the media corporations and politicians who have allegedly painted him as a "murderer" and "white supremacist."

Florida man who claimed self-defense and was acquitted of all murder charges draws comparisons to Kyle Rittenhouse



A jury found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all accounts on Friday afternoon. On the same day as the Rittenhouse acquittal, another young man who claimed he fired a gun in self-defense was also found not guilty of murder.

"A jury found Andrew 'A.J.' Coffee IV, 27, not guilty of second-degree felony murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer by discharging a firearm, and one count of shooting or throwing a deadly missile," the TC Palm reported on Friday.

Around 5 a.m. on March 19, 2017, at least 14 law enforcement officers — including SWAT team members in camouflage pants and shirts with "SWAT" on the sleeve — arrived at the home in Gifford, Florida. The shooter's father, Andrew Coffee III, reportedly opened the front door to the house and was taken into custody by officers, according to Vero News.

Before entering the house, deputies yelled, "sheriff's office search warrant," according to witness statements from deputies.

"Coffee IV told the court he was asleep at the time the SWAT team arrived," the TC Palm reported. "He woke up and thought he was being robbed. Coffee said he saw what appeared to be a rifle sticking through an open bedroom window pointed at him. That's when he fired a .45-caliber pistol out of the window, shooting two or three times."

Deputies returned fire with more than a dozen rounds shot towards the bedroom, according to court records. Andrew's 21-year-old girlfriend, Alteria Woods, was killed after reportedly being struck by 10 bullets fired by the SWAT team, including one bullet that entered her chest.

Woods' family said Alteria worked as a pharmacy technician, who was attending Indian River State College, where she was studying to become a pharmacist.

In January, Woods' mother filed a federal lawsuit for misconduct against the deputies who shot and killed her daughter during the early morning raid.

In July 2017, a grand jury cleared SWAT team members of any criminal charges in the fatal raid, and a sheriff's office internal investigation cleared them of any violations of policies and procedures.

In the elder Coffee's bedroom, deputies said they found marijuana cigarettes, crack cocaine, 10 Hydromorphone pills, and one oxycodone pill.

The younger Coffee was acquitted of all of the murder charges after claiming he fired in self-defense. However, he was found guilty of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Coffee — who has four felony convictions — faces a maximum prison term of 30 years at his sentencing on Jan. 13.

Coffee's attorney, Adam Chrzan, gave an explanation as to why his client wasn't charged with murder in the case, "We argued successfully, clearly, that there was some overreaction and overreach by the sheriff's department on that raid. They should have pulled back, they didn't. And this is what happens when you go into a volatile situation without all the information."

Many commentators are drawing comparisons to the verdict for Coffee and Rittenhouse since they arrived within hours of each other and involved two defendants receiving not guilty verdicts in self-defense cases. Many social media users are also using the Coffee verdict in an attempt to dispel the notion that race played a part in Rittenhouse's acquittal.

Immediately following Rittenhouse's verdict was announced, left-wing talking heads ran to Twitter to claim that the outcome of the trial was a result of "white supremacy." Several notable individuals — including NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace — invented a hypothetical situation where Kyle Rittenhouse would have been guilty of murder if he was black.

Daily Caller editor-in-chief Geoffrey Ingersoll stated, "People saying Rittenhouse would be found guilty if he were black ought to read about the Coffee verdict, which, as it happens, also came down today. Coffee FIRED ON DEPUTIES during a raid, made a self defense case, and won."

Conservative writer Carmine Sabia wrote on Twitter, "If you say Kyle Rittenhouse would've been found guilty if he were black look at the case of Andrew Coffee."

Conservative commentator Rob Smith said, "Black man acquitted in self-defense ruling after firing back in unannounced SWAT raid that killed his girlfriend. The Second Amendment is for all. Beware those who want you to think it's not. Their intentions are not to protect you."

Radio host and legal analyst Michael "Lionel" Lebron noted, "Andrew Coffee was also found not guilty in a jury trial by a system that apparently can administer justice to someone who is not white. I believe this destroys soundly the ridiculous myth promoted and propounded by the radical left."

Since the Rittenhouse verdict, protests have ignited across the country.

Andrew Coffee IV found not guilty on all counts of murder, attempted first degree murder www.youtube.com