Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Clackamas), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has released a statement on the Kyle Rittenhouse trial verdict, in which Rittenhouse was vindicated as acting in self-defense.

"The Rittenhouse verdict is not surprising to the Black community, "said Bynum We are intimately familiar with both the lingering possibility of and the plain reality of vigilantism."

"Today, the Wisconsin justice system sent a message that it will not hold to account a person who killed innocent people. It sent the message that exercising your first amendment rights is reserved for a precious few. Oregonians should look inward and continue our resolve to never let this version of reality take hold in our state.

"Our drive and call is justice, because justice creates order. Justice should not be a goal that we yearn performatively for; it must be something that we see in all systems within America. We should find it in our schools, our courts, and on our streets. We must remain steadfast in this pursuit and never waver in our commitment to this dream."

House Speaker and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Tina Kotek (D-Portland) also couldn't resist making a statement:

"A white teen, Kyle Rittenhouse, armed himself, crossed state lines, and killed two people. I’m outraged by this verdict and deeply concerned about the dangerous precedent it perpetuates for our country."

On the other side of the aisle, Baker City Mayor and Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Kerry McQuisten released a statement saying, "Kyle Rittenhouse shouldn't have been charged with any crime to begin with, much less placed on trial, but at least the verdict was just. Make no mistake about it, this was an assault on the basic right to self-defense. What do you think the verdict would have been in Oregon?"

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said, “There is a narrative that has been promoted that our institutions are irredeemably unjust if the verdict does not agree with the far-left progressive narrative. When Democrat politicians denounce decisions made by juries of peers, it emboldens those who wish to do violence and greenlights their activity. It is shameful.

“When the Democrats’ extreme base of supporters are convinced that institutions are unable to be reformed, even by the Democratic Party, which completely controls government, they consistently turn to violence as their course of action. When the national media and elected officials delegitimize the American jury system, violent people committing criminal acts are emboldened. Democrats' response to the violence has been mostly silent. Their response lacks courage and is shameful.

“Even President Joe Biden initially had the decency to acknowledge, “the jury system works and we have to abide by it.” Oregon Democrats, including candidates for governor, instead chose to give cover to those who wish to do criminal acts against the people and our Constitution. Oregonians are fed up with Democratic politicians pandering to those who commit violence. Our justice system had a full airing of this case at trial and the jury made a decision based on the evidence presented.

“This violence against the people of Portland must stop. The vandalism, the attacks on law enforcement and journalists are criminal acts that must be denounced and prosecuted. I am concerned the violence and chaos will continue until Democrats join Republicans in standing up to condemn it. For over a year now, Democrats have refused to stand with Republicans in a unified voice to condemn these riots that have besieged Portland and its citizens.”


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-11-20 08:31:42

Last Update: 2021-11-20 20:12:40