Community leaders offer prayers, call for peace ahead of Kyle Rittenhouse trial

 

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The next two weeks are expected to be emotional as the nation turns its attention to Kenosha.

Jury selection will get underway Monday, Nov. 1, in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial.

Friday night, Oct. 29, community leaders came together. Prayers were offered up to family members of the men who lost their lives.

One speaker called Rittenhouse "an American problem" and a token child of white privilege. 

“The healing's not gonna be over for some time,” said Justin Blake, Jacob Blake’s uncle.

Justin Blake says it hurts that these two men, who were peacefully supporting Jacob Blake last year, didn't make it home. 

"See, when you can bring different color people together, different religions, that's a win in this day and age, that's a win,” said Blake.

Jojo Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber were killed. The case drew national attention, which is again a concern for Kenosha residents.

“Please remain peaceful. We don't want any community destruction,” said Tanya McClean, community activist.

Attorney Julius Kim is weighing in on the case. “It's not gonna be an easy case for the prosecution. It's not gonna be an easy case for the defense,” said attorney Julius Kim of Kim & LaVoy, S.C.

Video points to 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse as the shooter.

“I think that will help a lot, because what actually happened doesn't become so much in dispute, it's just the legal justifications of why things happened,” said Kim.

The judge ultimately ruled the case could be tried in Kenosha County.

"The tricky part is ultimately selecting 12 jurors, and some alternates, that can look at the evidence in this case and put aside some of their biases, put aside their previous life experiences and try and judge this case, and judge it fairly,” said Kim.

Back at the meeting, Hannah Gittings, Anthony Huber's partner, talked about losing her soulmate.

“Some of my more prominent feelings then were unabridged anger, confusion, despair, overwhelming sadness,” said Gittings.

Justin Blake left Friday night encouraging supporters to meet him outside the courthouse at 9 a.m. Monday.