Arizona student group slammed for raising money for teen charged in fatal Kenosha protest shootings
Kyle Rittenhouse
TEMPE, Ariz. - A Republican student group at Arizona State University is receiving backlash for donating money to the 17-year-old gunman who fatally shot two protesters in Wisconsin.
College Republicans United announced this week that half of any funds they raise during the semester will go toward paying for the legal defense of Kyle Rittenhouse.
“He does not deserve to have his entire life destroyed because of the actions of violent anarchists during a lawless riot,” the group said in a tweet.
The Arizona State University College Republicans called for a formal administrative investigation into College Republicans United. The group said it does not condone support of the legal defense fund.
Authorities in Kenosha, Wisconsin, say Rittenhouse shot and killed two people and severely wounded a third with an AR-15 rifle Tuesday. The victims were part of anti-racism demonstrations occurring in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black, by a white police officer.
Blake, who was shot seven times, remains hospitalized.
Rittenhouse told police he was trying to protect businesses and people and acted in self-defense. At a hearing Friday, a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse, who is in custody in Illinois, should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges, including first-degree intentional homicide.
ASU officials said in a statement the school cannot prohibit a group from fundraising. But the school does not endorse the fundraiser.
The group is not the only one raising money for Rittenhouse. A self-described Christian fundraising site, GiveSendGo, says it has raised more than $100,000 for his defense.
Related
Extradition hearing for Kyle Rittenhouse delayed; attorney says teen acted in self-defense
The 17-year-old charged with killing two people during protests in Kenosha will be in court Friday, Aug. 28. Kyle Rittenhouse is expected to argue self-defense.
Related
New details revealed in shooting of Jacob Blake; MCSO discontinues watch of Blake
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) on Friday, Aug. 28 released new details in the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake. The DOJ released the names of the other officers at the scene -- and indicated two taser attempts by two different officers failed before Officer Rusten Sheskey fired seven times.
Related
Kenosha police union gives its version of Jacob Blake shooting
The Kenosha police union offered the most detailed accounting to date on officers' perspective of the moments leading up to police shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back.