Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the release of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager accused of fatally shooting two people during August protests in Wisconsin, on $2 million bail is an example of privilege and “white supremacy.”
“People who argue that dramatic changes to policing, including budgetary ones, will mean ‘violent people will be let out of jail to roam free’ rarely ever acknowledge that’s actually the current system we have today for the privileged,” the New York Democrat said on Twitter Saturday.
“Does anyone believe Rittenhouse would be released if he were Muslim & did the same thing in a diff context? For people who say systemic racism doesn’t exist,’ this is what it looks like: protection of white supremacy baked deep into our carceral systems,” Ocasio-Cortez continued. “Law and disorder.”
Does anyone believe Rittenhouse would be released if he were Muslim & did the same thing in a diff context? For people who say “systemic racism doesn’t exist,” this is what it looks like: protection of white supremacy baked deep into our carceral systems.
Law and disorder.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 21, 2020
Rittenhouse was released Friday thanks in large part to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and actor Ricky Schroder, who donated thousands of dollars for his release. Together, the duo contributed $200,000 to the fund, $150,000 from Schroder and $50,000 from Lindell.
Rittenhouse’s attorney celebrated his client’s release on Twitter Friday by posting a photo of Rittenhouse with Schroder and fellow attorney on the case, John Pierce.
“FREE AT LAST!!!” Lin Wood said on Twitter.
FREE AT LAST!!!
From L to R:
Attorney John Pierce @CaliKidJMP
THE KYLE RITTENHOUSE
Actor Ricky Schroder @rickyschroder13
Thank you, All Donors.
Thank you, All Patriots.
Thank God Almighty.#FightBack pic.twitter.com/37Ly66itT8— Lin Wood (@LLinWood) November 21, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t the only person disappointed by Rittenhouse’s release. News that the teen posted bail also received the attention of actress Bette Midler, who called for a boycott of MyPillow.
“Thanks to everyone who let a murdering child out to do it again?” Midler tweeted. “This boy killed 2 & gravely injured another. Why are you celebrating him? Anyone who owns #MyPillow should toss it immediately into the nearest landfill. And #RickySchroder? Who knew he could be so malevolent?”
Thanks to everyone who let a murdering child out to do it again? This boy killed 2 & gravely injured another. Why are you celebrating him? Anyone who owns #MyPillow should toss it immediately into the nearest landfill. And #RickySchroder? Who knew he could be so malevolent? https://t.co/WE9UOlale0
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) November 21, 2020
John Hubert, whose son was one of the people fatally shot by Rittenhouse, issued a statement on his release claiming the teen believes he is “above the law.”
“He has people out there who will help him, organizations, militia groups raising money for his defense right now,” Hubert said. “He thinks he’s above the law. He’s been treated as such by law enforcement. He believes he’s justified in the case, and for him to run wouldn’t surprise me.”
