Kenosha Living in Fear Ahead of Sunday Protests of Jury Acquittal
KENOSHA, Wis.βIn Kenosha, many everyday businesses are nervously anticipating Sundayβs protest march against a juryβs acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse.
Over six businesses interviewed by The Epoch Times were unwilling to be quoted, even with the offer of anonymity.
Most explained that their silence was out of concern that sharing their perspective would result in their stores being looted during tomorrowβs 2 p.m. protest.
It remains unclear how many protesters will appear. If the eventβs organizers reach their own highest benchmark, about 120 people may attend. In the Jacob Blake riots, 175 people were arrested, and many more participated.
Even so, the town is on edge.
βIβm not commenting on anything,β one business owner said while declining to comment. βIf I say something wrong, my business is gonna get targeted.β
Although Kenoshaβs streets were quiet and peace-filled while bathed in the afternoon sunlight, many of its people spent the day dreading what Sundayβs protest march may bring.
One of the few people willing to be quoted by name was John Chaney. Along with two other men, Chaney was working to put up plywood barricades over the windows of businesses.
βLast time we boarded up here, we were a day late,β he said. βWhat was originally a Boost Mobile here got broken into,β Chaney said.
Since the riots after the shooting of Jacob Blake, plywood has gotten far more expensive, Chaney said. Itβs now about $14 for a new eight-by-four board, and he has resorted to reusing plywood used in the first set of riots. Two-by-four boards cost even more, he said.
To board up businesses, Chaney used boards originally earmarked for use in construction.
One building Chaney boarded up today had at least 24 plywood sheetsβover $336 of wood.
The plywood, decorated with paints from the first riot, was a hodgepodge quilt of symbolsβan American flag on one piece, βBLMβ on another, βBlack-owned businessβ on a third, and art on a fourth.
Despite the preparations, Chaney said he expects that the protest will be peaceful and small.
βTheyβre just gonna come up here and yell in small groups for a little bit and everyoneβs gonna shout at them in bitter tones to go home,β he said.
This time, Kenosha will be better prepared for riots, he added. When the Jacob Blake riots happened, no one expected the small Wisconsin town to crackle with flames and gunshots. People thought the police would stop any riots, he said.
βNo one could have expected it,β he said, referring to last yearβs burning and looting. βBut this time, itβs no holds barred.β
If there is violence, Chaney said, Kenoshans are better prepared this time.
After the last riots, the town also saw a massive post-riot gun-buying spree.
βYou have the God-honest right to keep a gun in your home. If someone crosses that line, you have got the right,β Chaney said.
One armed Kenosha resident said that he dreads the thought of any potential violence in his town, although he is prepared for it.
Gun owner Terry Weidig said that after the Jacob Blake riot, many Kenoshans and nearby people bought so many guns and ammunition that they was almost impossible to find.
In that riot, protesters passed his house as he heard reports of them damaging cars and throwing rocks.
Weidig said that after the riots, he bought 250 .380 bullets for $1 apiece because he feared more violence. Usually, these bullets cost less than a dollar.
Weidig said he hated even the thought of using a gun in self-defense.
βThe last thing I ever want to do is [to] have to pull a firearm on someone,β he said. βThatβs one of my biggest fears. But it gives me a little bit of comfort knowing I have protection for me, my wife, my daughter, and my mother-in-law.β
Paladin Protection Academy gun store owner Brian Gard said that he is committed to keeping his store safe if a riot does break out.
βIf they walk with body armor, rifles, ammo β¦ [if] that walks out onto the street β¦ people with that mindset, again, what do we believe their intent is with those weapons?β Gard said.
In the past week, Gard said he has seen a far steadier stream of buyers than normal.
βA lot of folks, I think, are looking at home defense,β Gard said.
His best-selling items this week were body armor, handguns, and shotguns, he said.