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Bothell High teacher's viral rant saying Kyle Rittenhouse trial is weaponized racism probed

'Racism exists. White guys like me don’t see it because it’s not part of my experience,' the unnamed teacher said

BOTHELL, WASHINGTON: A teacher’s conduct is now under probe after he allegedly said that the Kyle Rittenhouse trial was “an example of racism being used as a weapon”. The unnamed teacher’s rant was recorded by a student who gave it to their father. The student’s father then shared the recording with the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH.

According to reports, the Bothell High School science teacher’s rant began amid an assignment on magnets. He stopped the lesson in between on November 18 and started commenting on Rittenhouse’s trial. At the time, the acquittal verdict had not come out. The judgment came on November 19 when the teenager was freed of all charges. He was accused of killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, after unrest ensued in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020, by the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

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Commenting on the case, the teacher said: “You can argue back and forth about what happened. … Did he feel like he was really in danger, and what the hell was he doing there in the first place? Where were his parents? That’s what I want to know. So, that’s arguable. That’s what the trial is about. Was he acting in self-defense when he shot those people? That’s for the jury to figure out. That’s not for me to figure out.”

He continued, “For me, what’s the most appalling thing about this is he ran toward the police with his hands up, with his weapon right here, and the police did this — they waived him through. Seriously! If he was Black, would he have been waived through? No god-d— way,” before adding, “That’s what this is about. It wasn’t about, … it’s about people seeing people differently. That’s an example of racism being used as a weapon — not weaponizing racism. OK? Racism exists. White guys like me don’t see it because it’s not part of my experience.”

Reports also said that when a student raised a hand to say something on the teacher’s rant, it was not recorded. The teacher scolded him and stated: “Put your hand down, it’s my turn, OK?” While the father who gave the recorded video to the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH said: “My son didn’t even mention Kyle Rittenhouse, nor did any other students. The teacher raised it entirely on his own as an example of racism.”

The video has been shared on Twitter as well, attracting a lot of attention. A user commented, “He should have kept his opinion to himself, but is what he said incorrect? It’s an assumption, but a pretty good one.” The second one said, “It is 100% incorrect. The same day KR was found not guilty a black guy was also found not guilty in a self defense case.” “Teacher playing a whole blockbuster in his head on what aboutism,” the third one added.

A tweet read, “It’s no wonder all these kids think the way they do now. The people these students are supposed to look up to are poisoning their minds. Sad.” Another one added: “The reality is kids will always have some shitty teachers throughout their life in public school. I had more then enough but having rational parents that asked me everyday about what was going on in class combatted that. #talktoyourkids.”