NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Protesters took to the streets in cities across the country Friday night for largely peaceful demonstrations following Kyle Rittenhouse’s not guilty verdict.
In New York City, two separate demonstrations took place across Brooklyn and Queens. One group of protesters marched over the Brooklyn Bridge, shutting down the span for over an hour.
“This is what solidary looks like! This is what the people look like!” protesters chanted as they took to the bridge, where they paused to hold a comment of silence.
That protests was peaceful and no arrests were made, police said.
In Middle Village, Queens, five people were arrested for vandalism after they allegedly stomped on vehicles and damaged property, police said.
"The NYPD takes its responsibility to protect the 1st amendment rights of peaceful demonstrators seriously," the NYPD said in a statement. "Just as important is the safety of NYers & the protection of property from people breaking the law in the name of protest."
On the West Coast, officials in Portland declared a protest of about 200 people a riot when they began breaking windows and throwing objects at police, KOIN TV reported.
“A crowd has gathered near SE 2nd Avenue and SE Madison Street and participants have begun breaking windows and damaging doors of city facilities in the area. People are throwing objects at police officers in the area,” Portland police tweeted.
President Joe Biden on Friday sided with the jury.
"Look, I stand by what the jury has concluded," he told reporters. "The jury system works, and we have to abide by it."
He later issued a statement doubling down on his comments, while asking protesters to demonstrate peacefully.
“While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken,” Biden said.
”I urge everyone to express their views peacefully, consistent with the rule of law,” the president continued. “Violence and destruction of property have no place in our democracy.”
Local politicians were more critical.
“This decision is an indictment of irresponsible laws that make our society far more violent and unsafe under the guise of personal freedom and so-called self-defense,” Mayor-elect Eric Adams said in a statement.
"It also sends an extremely dangerous message to those in our country who seek agendas of anarchy often born in prejudice and ignorance to wreak havoc in their communities and potentially murder their neighbors. We should not be shocked,” Adams added. “We should be focused on swift and righteous action.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio, meanwhile, tweeted, “To call this a miscarriage of justice is an understatement.”
“Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum are victims. They should be alive today,” de Blasio wrote. “The only reason they’re not is because a violent, dangerous man chose to take a gun across state lines and start shooting people.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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