Statements
Statement from Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz on the Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict
Today, after roughly 26 hours of deliberation, a Kenosha, Wisconsin jury found Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot two men and wounded a third, not guilty of homicide and other charges.
In reaction to the jury’s verdict, Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz issued the following statement:
“The idea that a 17-year old vigilante armed with a semiautomatic rifle could cross state lines, insert himself unprompted into an emotional and volatile situation, end the lives of two protesters and wound a third and walk away a free man elicits serious questions about our criminal justice system, not to mention our gun laws.
“It is past time to take bold steps towards criminal justice and common sense gun law reforms in our country. We must do everything in our power to stand in the way of the type of reckless vigilantism that took the lives of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. Only then will we be able to live in a country where we do not have to live in fear of unstable, out-of-control, self-appointed ‘law and order’ warriors like George Zimmerman and Kyle Rittenhouse.
“Let us take the disappointment we feel today and transform it into resolute action that leads to enhanced safety in our streets.”