A month after he was acquitted on murder charges, Kyle Rittenhouse was given a standing ovation while speaking at the conservative Turning Point USA's 'AmericaFest' conference in Phoenix, Arizona on Monday.
Rittenhouse, 18, spoke about how the trial matured him and discussed the choice to take the stand and give his account of the shootings. Although, most of Monday's discussion were made by other panelists, including Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
“I think my trial was an example of them trying to come after our second amendment rights, a right to defend ourselves, in trying to take weapons,” Rittenhouse said.
Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz. The shootings took place on August 25, 2020 during the protests of the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha, Wisconsin police officer.
The then-17-year-old said he traveled from his home in Antioch, Illinois to Kenosha to protect the businesses from rioters, and then acted in self-defense after he came under attack and feared for his life.
He was portrayed by prosecutors as a "wannabe soldier" and was searching for trouble, while supporters call him a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness.
When Rittenhouse took the stage at the conference on Monday, he was met with thousands cheering his name. The hosts even asked the crowd if any women wanted to go on a date with him.
“You’re a hero to millions, it’s an honor to be able to have you," Kirk said.
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