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Kyle Rittenhouse: Mark McCloskey blames defund the police movement for shootings

Mark, along with his wife Patricia McCloskey, was seen outside the courthouse as Kyle Rittenhouse's trial goes on

KENOSHA, WISCONSIN: Mark McCloskey has given a statement while defending Kyle Rittenhouse, who has been facing trial for allegedly killing two men and injuring one as anti-police brutality protests erupted in Kenosha in August 2020. Mark, along with his wife Patricia McCloskey, was also seen outside the courthouse where the teen has been tried. The lawyer pair went viral in June last year for holding guns on peaceful Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters who crossed their house on a private road.

While defending Rittenhouse, Mark said: “If you defund the police, and the government is not there to protect the citizens, citizens have to protect themselves.” He also spoke to The New York Post and stated, “We’re just here to support Kyle and hope that the jury comes out with an acquittal on all counts and you know to support people’s rights to defend themselves.”

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The 64-year-old personal injury lawyer added: “We’re just here to support people that exercise their Second Amendment rights and defend themselves, particularly when the government abdicates that duty and fails to protect its citizens. I mean, we’ve got programs to defund the police all over the place but if you defund the police and the government is not there to protect the citizens, citizens have to protect themselves.”

Rittenhouse has been accused of taking the lives of two men -- Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26 -- and injuring 28-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz on August 25, 2020, as people took to the streets to protest against the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Prosecutors have claimed that the then-17-year-old acted as a “wannabe soldier” and incited violence by carrying an AR-style rifle. But defense lawyers have said that Rittenhouse fired bullets in self-defense.

The teenager is facing several charges that include, first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, and use of a dangerous weapon.

Meanwhile, Mark’s comment has attracted a lot of reactions online with many supporting him. A user tweeted, “I have faith that justice will prevail and Kyle Rittenhouse will be acquitted. If he is not, I will donate and raise as much as necessary to support his appeals.” Another one questioned, “Did any of the rioters in Kenosha get prosecuted for burning down the city, or just the kid trying to stop them?” A tweet added: “Jacob Blake accosted his rape victim then pulled a knife on the cops and tried to steal a vehicle with a child inside. He was shot justifiably. The media lied, provoked riots, leading to the Rittenhouse shooting, which they also lied about. They are truly the enemy of the people.”

A person stated, “Sad thing about Kenosha though, is the police weren't defunded, they were told to let Antifa & BLM do whatever they pleased.” The second one noted, “Why do Americans actually believe LEO or Govt is 1st line of defense for person(s) and property? That is insane. Defend yourself.”