Dozens of community activists and shooting victims' families gathered to promote healing and change in Kenosha following the Kyle Rittenhouse trial."What we're here today for is a very simple call. We want to reimagine what our community looks like," said activist Kyle Johnson. “We need to heal, and when we say heal we don’t mean going back to the status quo, because we saw where that got us, we mean improving.” Johnson and other community members said the Rittenhouse verdict should be a new beginning for change."We start a new chapter here in Kenosha," said Kyle Flood, a former school board member and activist. "A chapter where we start to reimagine what Kenosha looks like. We reimagine a demilitarized police where people never have to start a riot."They said they hope to improve the criminal justice system, schooling, housing and other issues in Kenosha."I just want the city of Kenosha to understand ... that nobody here is ever going to stop. No one here is going to stop attempting to expose the flaws in the system," said Hannah Gittings, the girlfriend of Anthony Huber who was shot and killed by Rittenhouse during the 2020 unrest."I miss Anthony every single day," she tearfully said. "I wish I could come home to him to unload, but I can't because he's dead. And now the system is telling me no one needs to answer to that, and I have a problem with that."She said all the community can do now is move forward.

KENOSHA, Wis. — Hannah Gittings and her boyfriend, Anthony Huber, were in Kenosha protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 25, 2020. That night, Huber was shot and killed.

Gittings is now back in Kenosha awaiting a verdict in the trial of the man who pulled the trigger, 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse.

Tuesday saw tense moments outside of the Kenosha County Courthouse. For Gittings, it brings back feelings of when she last saw her boyfriend.

"It's been more dramatic than I thought it was going to be. We all knew the trial was coming, obviously," Gittings said.

Rittenhouse's defense team says Huber attacked Rittenhouse with a skateboard, and Rittenhouse killed Huber in self-defense. The prosecution and Gittings said Huber was trying to disarm Rittenhouse.

Gittings said she expected Huber's actions to be more of a focus during the trial.

TMJ4

"I just feel he was so underrepresented in this trial and I don't think that's fair, because what he did was assess an active-shooter situation, and he was just that type of man," Gittings said. "If he could've gotten that gun away, he would've held on to it. I don't think he would've thrown it. But clearly his main goal was to just stop this kid from doing what he just done, which was murdering Joseph Rosenbaum."

Rittenhouse faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and failure to comply with an emergency order. He faces life in prison if convicted of the intentional homicide count.

This story was originally published by Tony Atkins on Scripps station TMJ4 in Milwaukee.

KENOSHA, Wis. —

Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team rested its case Thursday afternoon and the body of evidence is now closed.

The judge gave the jury Friday off while the prosecution and defense agree on final instructions.

"Even though evidence is closed it is not appropriate to discuss with anybody." Judge Bruce Schroeder told the jury.

Prosecutors said they will ask the judge to allow the jury to consider lesser charges on some of the most serious homicide charges.

Schroeder said they will begin again Monday morning with jury instructions.

That is expected to take up to an hour.

The state will then present its closing arguments.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger said he expected that to take up to two hours.

Defense attorney Mark Richards said he expected his closing arguments to take about 90 minutes.

The state will then have a final rebuttal, which Binger said could take up to an additional 30 minutes.

The judge said he would allow each side to have up to 2.5 hours total for their closing arguments.

He will then draw 12 numbers to decide the final jurors who will decide the case.

Those jurors will then begin their deliberations.

KENOSHA, Wis. —

Jury selection for the Kyle Rittenhouse trial begins Monday.

Community members told sister station WISN 12 News tensions and anxiety run high as the trial approaches.

"I think people are a little nervous about how this is all going to play out," said Tanya McLean, executive director of the Leaders of Kenosha. "No matter what, we want everyone to remain peaceful because this is about getting justice for two young men."

Rittenhouse shot three men in August 2020 during unrest in Kenosha. Gaige Grosskreutz survived, but he killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum.

Rittenhouse claims he shot the men in self-defense.

"It is without debate, judge, all three of these people were chasing Kyle Rittenhouse," a defense attorney said at the last court hearing.

Now a jury will review footage and testimony to decide.

The Leaders of Kenosha group told WISN 12 News they believe justice will only be served if Rittenhouse is convicted of murder.

However, they said safety is a number one concern and priority heading into next week.

"Nobody deserves to go to a rally and not come home at night," said Justin Blake, Jacob Blake's uncle. "It doesn’t mean much to your family if you don't make it home."

The August unrest in Kenosha was in response to the Jacob Blake shooting.

"We have to accept the possibility that because of all these factors there's a chance justice won't fully be served," said Hannah Gittings, Huber's partner. "But what we need to remember is that our strength lies in our numbers and our bind."

The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department said there will be increased police presence and security surrounding the courthouse during the trial.

"Our responsibility to public safety is of utmost importance," Sheriff David Beth said in a statement. "These measures are meant to ensure the safety of the public that has legal business in and around the courthouse campus as well as Civic Center employees while maintaining the integrity of the trial."