Pascrell: Kenosha Killings Are An 'Act Of Deranged Terrorism'

PATERSON, NJ — When Kyle Rittenhouse drove across state lines to ostensibly protect a business that stands in a community he doesn't call home, he did so accompanied by an AR-15 style rifle.

Rittenhouse, authorities say, used that weapon to shoot three protesters, killing two, in Kenosha, Wisconsin during a protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

He has been charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor, Patch reports.

New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. wasn't tepid in describing Rittenhouse and his actions in a statement on Friday.

"The cold-blooded murder of two Americans in Kenosha is (an) act of deranged terrorism," said Pascrell. "The fact is that domestic extremism is not a both-sides problem. Violence must never be tolerated. It is simply a vicious cycle."

One day after President Donald Trump took to a stage set up in front of the White House at the Republican National Convention, in what former Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics Walter Shaub said "may be the most visible misuse of official position for private gain in America’s history," Pascrell said the president must shoulder the blame for an increase in domestic terror.

"For four years, Donald Trump has openly embraced the worst elements of humanity to divide our nation and direct hate towards Black Americans," said Pascrell.

"Trump's actions and rhetoric have compounded the systemic and institutional problem of racism in our society, contributing to more violence in our neighborhoods and emboldening extremists like the murderer in Kenosha to commit acts of terror."

Rittenhouse has been accused of shooting three people, including Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake and Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis.

Rosenbaum and Huber both died from their injuries.

View this post on Instagram

His name is Anthony Huber he is a hero he is a skateboarder and he sacrificed his life to save others in Kenosha, my heart goes out to his family and to the family of Joseph Rosenbaum Anthony you are the best skater ever Link to Bio to help his Family
A post shared by Atiba Jefferson (@atibaphoto) on Aug 26, 2020 at 7:39pm PDT

For more on Rittenhouse, read Scott Anderson here: Kyle Rittenhouse Faces Homicide Charges In Kenosha Shooting: DA

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