Representative Bryan Steil (R-WI-01) reacted as the Rittenhouse jury nears a verdict during the second day of deliberations. Steil condemned the unlawful actions in Kenosha in August of 2020 and expressed that people need to act in a “lawful manner” as the verdict is released.
Steil said in an interview with Fox News, “What’s so important is that following the jury’s decision, people express themselves in a legal manner consistent with the First Amendment.”
LISTEN: "What's so important is that following the jury's decision, people express themselves in a legal manner consistent with the First Amendment"-@RepBryanSteil discusses how authorities in his district is preparing for a verdict in the Rittenhouse trial #AmericaReports pic.twitter.com/PewjSJuR1W
— America Reports (@AmericaRpts) November 17, 2021
Steil said that while he is “optimistic” that the reaction following the verdict will not resemble the events of 2020, he said that “a bright and fine line” must be drawn between exercising First Amendment rights and “criminal behavior.”
Steil said, “There is a lesson learned from the Kenosha riots: we must stand for public safety and with the men and women of law enforcement.”
There is a lesson learned from the Kenosha riots: we must stand for public safety and with the men and women of law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/74EPLDu8Vj
— Bryan Steil (@RepBryanSteil) November 17, 2021
The representative was vocal during the 2020 Kenosha riots, demanding that Governor Tony Evers (D) activate the National Guard in response to the violence occurring on the streets. In a tweet from August 26, 2020 Steil said “the violence needs to stop now.” He called out Evers for sending only 250 National Guardsmen after several violent nights, which was “woefully insufficient” in his opinion.
My statement on the third night of violence in #Kenosha:@realDonaldTrump @MarkMeadows @GovEvers pic.twitter.com/OcV9dC4nZH
— Bryan Steil (@RepBryanSteil) August 26, 2020
The day before that statement, on August 25, 2020, which was also the day when Kyle Rittenhouse shot the three men, Steil warned that resources were needed “tonight.” He wrote, “We need to make sure that we provide the resources to the community of Kenosha so we can restore public safety. Not tomorrow, not next week, now. Tonight.”
We need to make sure that we provide the resources to the community of Kenosha so we can restore public safety. Not tomorrow, not next week, now. Tonight. pic.twitter.com/jcWQwejD9y
— Bryan Steil (@RepBryanSteil) August 26, 2020
The jurors in the Rittenhouse case finished their second day of deliberations on Wednesday. Rittenhouse has five charges against him, including homicide and reckless endangerment.
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Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Kenosha, Wisconsin Downtown” by David Wilson. CC BY 2.0.
