Protestor sues Kenosha, Wisc., claims city facilitated ‘white supremacy’

The lawsuit alleges that the officers "condoned" the efforts of people like Rittenhouse to use violence against people who were on the street protesting after an officer-involved shooting on Aug. 26 2020 that left Jacob Blake injured.

Rittenhouse shot three people at that time, fatally wounding two, and injuring Grosskreutz, who in the lawsuit claims "lost 90 percent of his right bicep" due to the gunshot wound. Experts have stated that Rittenhouse was right to act in self-defense against Grosskreutz, and the others.

The states that "authorities in Kenosha not only knew that armed vigilantes planned to patrol the protest attended by Black Lives Matter supporters, but also encouraged their participation," according to NPR.

"It was not a mistake that Kyle Rittenhouse would kill two people and maim a third on that evening. It was a natural consequence of the actions of the Kenosha Police Department and Kenosha Sherriff's office in deputizing a roving militia to 'protect property' and 'assist in maintaining order,'" the lawsuit reads.

"Defendants' open support of and coordination with the armed individuals in the minutes and hours before the shootings deprived Anthony Huber and the other protestors of the basic protections typically provided by police. It was a license for the armed individuals to wreak havoc and inflict injury," it says.

The lawsuit goes on to allege that the right to freedom of expression and lawful assembly on the part of Grosskreutz and others were also violated due to the authorities' alleged actions.

Grosskreutz isn't the first to accuse Rittenhouse of white supremacy without any evidence or cause. Then-presidential candidate Joe Biden took the opportunity of a campaign ad to slander the teen, which resulted in a defamation suit by the Rittenhouse family.

Jacob Blake, the man who was shot by officers while they were attempting to enforce a restraining order, became a focal point for civil unrest across the US.

Rittenhouse is to be tried for murder and attempted murder for the shootings. He has pleaded not guilty due to self defense. The trial is set to commence in November.