Chicago Police Department has canceled officers' days off this weekend in what the unions say is preparation for uproar over the looming Kyle Rittenhouse trial verdict that is certain to divide the nation regardless of what it is.
Rittenhouse is on trial for murdering two white BLM protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last August. The teenage gunman claims he was defending his hometown from an angry mob, but his critics say he embodies the systemic racism they victims were protesting against.
Closing arguments are expected next week but the case has already been thrown into chaos; Rittenhouse's lawyers have asked for a mistrial because prosecutors introduced evidence that they were not allowed to show the jury.
Court is now back in session, but the heat surrounding the case is increasing.
Early this morning the judge revealed that the court has been inundated with communications from members of the public during the trial – many are in the form of offensive emails, some calling the judge a racist. The attorneys have also been victims of this.
Speaking ahead of the start of testimony, Judge Schroeder said he would deal with all such things adding, 'I wouldn't want to be those people.'
Chicago PD sent a memo to officers this week notifying them that one of their days off this weekend had been canceled, claiming it was due to 'current crime patterns' in the city. Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara claims it is in anticipation of 'upheaval' from the Rittenhouse trial.
Teenage Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse is on trial for first degree reckless homicide for killing two white BLM protesters last summer. The trial is expected to come to a close either this week or next week
Chicago PD has canceled officers days off this weekend to 'enhance public safety' and police unions say it is to do with the Rittenhouse verdict looming
He said in a video posted on YouTube on Monday, he fumed at the canceled time-off, and said: 'They do not get to keep saying we need manpower just in case a verdict doesn't go positive, and all of a sudden there's upheaval.'
The police department is now refusing to confirm or deny his claims, or whether they anticipate uprising this weekend or next week.
All they will say is: 'To enhance public safety and to address current crime patterns, all full-duty sworn members will have one regular day off cancelled this upcoming weekend between November 12, 2021 through November 14, 2021.'
The Los Angeles Police Department will have sufficient amount of officers in an event if anything arises
Other departments in major cities are also being tight-lipped on whether they anticipate trouble, and what they are doing - if anything - to offset it.
The LAPD refused to reveal whether or not any special preparations had been
