To: readers across the Aisle
Subject: Change is coming
Date: June 22, 2020
To: readers across the Aisle
Subject: Voting in America- not so black and white
Date: May 27, 2020
To: readers across the Aisle
Subject: 6 hours from Kenosha
Date: September 1st, 2020
Terror in Kenosha
Kenosha, Wisconsin has witnessed the shooting of Jacob Blake at the hands of police and the shooting of 3 protestors by 17-year old Kyle Rittenhouse. In this newsletter:
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background on both shootings
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unrest in Kenosha
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the criminal justice system
Let's take a walk down the Aisle...
What happened
What: Viral video emerged of Jacob Blake being shot in the back 7 times by a police officer. 2 days later, Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly shot three protestors and was arrested.
Where: the city of Kenosha (population: 100,000)
Who: Jacob Blake is a 29-year old father of 3 kids. He remains hospitalized after being paralyzed. Kyle Rittenhouse is a 17-year old former member of a youth police cadet program.
Background
The incident began when police were called about Blake visiting his girlfriend's house when he was not supposed to be there. Officers attempted to arrest Blake twice using a taser, but Blake resisted.
As Blake leaned into the driver's side of his car, Officer Rusten Sheskey fired 7 times into Blake's back. Blake's 3 children were watching in the car.
Blake admitted to officers that he did have a knife, which was later found on the driver's side floorboard.
Blake's family: Blake was going back to the car to protect his children and was not armed during the encounter; this is attempted murder
Police union: Blake did not comply after verbal warnings and use of force + he had a warrant for arrest for felony sexual assault
The Aftermath
Massive protests broke out in Kenosha, resulting in damage to local businesses & nearly $2M in damages.
On Tuesday, Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly shot 3 protestors.
Rittenhouse originally traveled to Kenosha from Antioch to help a friend whose business was in danger during the riots.
Rittenhouse was extinguishing a fire set off by protestors when, according to his lawyer, he was chased by protestors threatening to kill him. After hearing shots behind him, Rittenhouse fired at the protestors, allegedly killing 2 protestors and wounding a third.
According to eye witnesses, protestors were trying to disarm Rittenhouse after he got in an altercation with the first protestor and shot him. As he ran away, Rittenhouse allegedly called his friend to tell him that he killed someone.
Rittenhouse was allowed to leave the crime scene still armed, despite the law against carrying weapons while underage in Wisconsin. He was eventually arrested and charged with First Degree intentional homicide in Antioch.
Right: Rittenhouse was acting in self defense and was helping local businesses
Left: Rittenhouse came to Kenosha with the intention of shooting people
The system
The same justice system that jailed an Ohio mom for sending her children to a better school district gave Lori Loughlin a 2-month sentence for paying half a million in bribes to get her daughters into USC.
Liberals: justice system & law enforcement keep making same mistakes over and over
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In May, only 6 hours driving from Kenosha, George Floyd died at the hands of law enforcement.
Conservatives: left is purposefully disregarding the violence resulting from protests to influence election
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Situations like what happened in Kenosha and with the McCloskeys happen when citizens feel like they have to protect themselves because the government won't.
Other controversies
What: NBA boycotts games
Right: ratings are falling because public doesn't want to see politics in sports
Left: players should use sports to fight for what they believe in
What: University closings after COVID-19 spikes
Right: schools and universities can't stay closed forever, remote learning doesn't work
Left: I told you so
What: Nancy Pelosi gets her hair done in closed salon
Right: the strict restrictions politicians impose are hypocritical and hurt local businesses
Left: Pelosi's office claims she wore a mask "most of the time"- this was a setup
What: Fox News alters pictures of Seattle protests
Right: it was a collage we were practicing our scrapbooking skills
Left: conservative news outlets are exaggerating the damage of protests
Cartoon
Spread some good
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The Equal Justice Initiative helps to fight inequality in the justice system
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Support Jacob Blake's family/ medical expenses
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Help Kenosha small business owners rebuild
Quote of the week
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers."
-Chadwick Boseman played several historical figures, including Thurgood Marshall, James Brown, and Jackie Robinson. He died last Friday at 43 after a 4-year fight with colon cancer.
Share The Aisle
Thank you for walking across the Aisle with us this week. Now that you have both sides of the story, it’s up to you to decide where you stand.
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This article cites 11 liberal news sources in blue and 11 conservative news sources in red. 7 sources were considered neutral in gray.