After Kyle Rittenhouse's acquittal on all charges, a state university in Massachusetts, US seems to have offered students to attend racially segregated "processing spaces" but mistakenly distorted some facts in the case in the communication. &nbsp; &nbsp;

In an email sent to students by Fitchburg State University on Friday, it falsely claimed that the rifle used by Rittenhouse was automatic. It also said that the two men killed in the riots were protesting the "wrongful death" of the alive Jacob Blake. It also claimed that Rittenhouse carried his firearm across state lines. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/transgender-day-of-remembrance-biden-honours-46-transgender-americans-killed-due-to-violence-in-us-430839" hreflang="en">Transgender day of remembrance: Biden honours 46 transgender Americans killed due to violence in US</a>

"The Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness is creating space for our community to process the 'not guilty' on all accounts verdict in the Kenosha, Wisconsin case where Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois native, shot and killed two people protesting the wrongful death of Jacob Blake in 2020," the original email said. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Lots of lies and segregation in this posting, from Fitchburg State University! Defund the colege/Universty system they are systematically RACIST! <a href="https://t.co/pcy5vXqNzm">https://t.co/pcy5vXqNzm</a>
— Gorbag goes camping (@LarryHe93057136) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarryHe93057136/status/1461860621121581056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

It went on to give details of times for separate gatherings of "students of colour" and "white student" groups in designated spaces. It said that such race-segregated spaces were also listed for the faculty and staff. &nbsp;

"This moment has and will undoubtedly impact many in our community, so please see these spaces as an opportunity to discuss thoughts, emotions and reflections," the email read. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-thanksgiving-tradition-us-president-joe-biden-pardons-peanut-butter-jelly-430778" hreflang="en">In Thanksgiving tradition, US President Joe Biden pardons ‘Peanut Butter’, ‘Jelly’</a>

According to the case, Rittenhouse had an AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle, which he got from a friend, who bought and kept it in Wisconsin for him. &nbsp;

In a subsequent correction from the school, it said, "In the haste of creating these events, some factual errors were included in the original communication." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After Kyle Rittenhouse's acquittal on all charges, a state university in Massachusetts, US seems to have offered students to attend racially segregated "processing spaces" but mistakenly distorted some facts in the case in the communication.

After Kyle Rittenhouse's acquittal on all charges, a state university in Massachusetts, US seems to have offered students to attend racially segregated "processing spaces" but mistakenly distorted some facts in the case in the communication. In an email sent to students by Fitchburg State University on Friday, it falsely claimed that the rifle used by Rittenhouse was automatic. It also said that the two men killed in the riots were protesting the "wrongful death" of the alive Jacob Blake. It also claimed that Rittenhouse carried his firearm across state lines. Also Read: Transgender day of remembrance: Biden honours 46 transgender Americans killed due to violence in US "The Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness is creating space for our community to process the 'not guilty' on all accounts verdict in the Kenosha, Wisconsin case where Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois native, shot and killed two people protesting the wrongful death of Jacob Blake in 2020," the original email said. Lots of lies and segregation in this posting, from Fitchburg State University! Defund the colege/Universty system they are systematically RACIST! https://t.co/pcy5vXqNzm — Gorbag goes camping (@LarryHe93057136) November 20, 2021 × It went on to give details of times for separate gatherings of "students of colour" and "white student" groups in designated spaces. It said that such race-segregated spaces were also listed for the faculty and staff. "This moment has and will undoubtedly impact many in our community, so please see these spaces as an opportunity to discuss thoughts, emotions and reflections," the email read. Also Read: In Thanksgiving tradition, US President Joe Biden pardons ‘Peanut Butter’, ‘Jelly’ According to the case, Rittenhouse had an AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle, which he got from a friend, who bought and kept it in Wisconsin for him. In a subsequent correction from the school, it said, "In the haste of creating these events, some factual errors were included in the original communication." (With inputs from agencies)

After Rittenhouse trial, US university distorts facts, but offers race-segregated safe spaces to share views

The public trial in Kyle Rittenhouse case seems to have polarised the United States along political lines. The acquittal has attracted sharp reactions from all corners of the country. &nbsp;

US President Joe Biden is angry and concerned, while former president Donald Trump has congratulated Rittenhouse on his acquittal. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vice-president-kamala-harris-becomes-us-president-for-a-brief-period-430604" hreflang="en">Vice President Kamala Harris becomes US president for a 'brief period'</a>

In front of reporters on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that he was "angry and concerned" by the announcement but stood by the jury's decision. Biden added, "The jury system works, and we have to abide by it." &nbsp;

<img alt="Brief 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="90855fb6-38c1-4af6-9623-72d5d68c3fe8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/US%20%287%29_0.jpg" />

In a statement from his Save America political action committee, Trump said, "Congratulations Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges. It's called being found NOT GUILTY— And by the way, if that's not self-defence, nothing is!" &nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chrystul Kizer—17-yr-old Black girl in Wisconsin who killed the man raping &amp; trafficking her 
•Convicted &amp; case is now in Appeals 
 
Kyle Rittenhouse—17-yr-old white boy in Wisconsin who took an AR-15 to a protest &amp; killed 2 
•Acquitted 
 
The system isnt broken—it was built this way <a href="https://t.co/MJSgzFgKFj">pic.twitter.com/MJSgzFgKFj</a>
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) <a href="https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1461833068583563271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

This comes as a jury cleared Rittenhouse of all five charges, which ranged from intentional homicide to recklessly endangering the safety of others. After three days of deliberations, the verdict came on Friday. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/house-narrowly-passes-bidens-social-safety-net-and-climate-bill-430628" hreflang="en">House narrowly passes Biden’s social safety net and climate bill</a>

In Wisconsin last year, Rittenhouse had shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. He had also fired at and injured Gaige Grosskreutz. The jury ruled that Rittenhouse, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, was acting in self-defence. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I want to live in a country where Kyle Rittenhouse is seen as a hero and Lebron James is seen as a communist traitor.
— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickAdamsinUSA/status/1461906741017337864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The incident occurred when riot broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, who was shot and left partially paralysed by a white police officer. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The public trial in Kyle Rittenhouse case seems to have polarised the United States along political lines. The acquittal has attracted sharp reactions from all corners of the country.

The public trial in Kyle Rittenhouse case seems to have polarised the United States along political lines. The acquittal has attracted sharp reactions from all corners of the country. US President Joe Biden is angry and concerned, while former president Donald Trump has congratulated Rittenhouse on his acquittal. Also Read: Vice President Kamala Harris becomes US president for a 'brief period' In front of reporters on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that he was "angry and concerned" by the announcement but stood by the jury's decision. Biden added, "The jury system works, and we have to abide by it." In a statement from his Save America political action committee, Trump said, "Congratulations Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges. It's called being found NOT GUILTY— And by the way, if that's not self-defence, nothing is!" Chrystul Kizer—17-yr-old Black girl in Wisconsin who killed the man raping & trafficking her •Convicted & case is now in Appeals Kyle Rittenhouse—17-yr-old white boy in Wisconsin who took an AR-15 to a protest & killed 2 •Acquitted The system isnt broken—it was built this way pic.twitter.com/MJSgzFgKFj — Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) November 19, 2021 × This comes as a jury cleared Rittenhouse of all five charges, which ranged from intentional homicide to recklessly endangering the safety of others. After three days of deliberations, the verdict came on Friday. Also Read: House narrowly passes Biden’s social safety net and climate bill In Wisconsin last year, Rittenhouse had shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. He had also fired at and injured Gaige Grosskreutz. The jury ruled that Rittenhouse, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, was acting in self-defence. I want to live in a country where Kyle Rittenhouse is seen as a hero and Lebron James is seen as a communist traitor. — Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) November 20, 2021 × The incident occurred when riot broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, who was shot and left partially paralysed by a white police officer. (With inputs from agencies)

Rittenhouse acquittal polarises US on political lines, attracts sharp reactions

US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday ousted the two witnesses who provided the most damaging testimony during his impeachment investigation: Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and Ambassador Gordon Sondland.

Two days after his acquittal, Trump ousts two-star impeachment witnesses

&quot;Initially, I was unaware that cops had arrested me. I thought I had been kidnapped. It was only after reaching the police station that I realised I was in police custody,&quot; 45-year-old Syed Wasif Haider recalls. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The arrest was followed by three days of continuous torture. I was made to sign confession statements and blank papers. Eventually, when I was produced in front of a district magistrate and I ended up saying that I had gone to Kashmir Valley to attend a (militant) &nbsp;training camp, &quot; he adds.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A software engineer by profession, Haider, who hails from northern Indian city of Kanpur, was arrested in the year 2000 Kanpur bomb blast case over charges of rioting leading to the death of additional district magistrate of the city, Chandra Prakash Pathak.

&nbsp;

Nine years after he was accused of the terror charges, he was acquitted by Allahabad High Court in 2009.

&nbsp;

It was not only him, however, who bore the brunt of the false terror charges. His daughter back home, who was told that his father had gone abroad for a &quot;better job&quot;, often faced hateful comments by classmates for being a &quot;terrorist&#39;s daughter&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Seven years have passed since Haidar&#39;s acquittal. He, however, still claims to be living in social isolation.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&#39;Reform&#39; and &#39;support&#39;

&nbsp;

Over the years, thousands of people from different parts of India have been implicated on false terror charges, says a newly constituted group, Innocence network, which aims to work across the country to ease the struggle of such people.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement&nbsp;that originated in the African-American community and campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people, Innocence Network is a group of 50 &#39;socially responsible&#39; individuals from different parts of India, who were once falsely implicated on charges of terror, but later proven innocent in court.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The Innocence Network aims to bring judicial and policing reforms in India and rehabilitate the people who have been acquitted of terror charges</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The Innocence Network aims to bring judicial and policing reforms in India and rehabilitate the people who have been acquitted of terror charges " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

&nbsp;

The members say they empathise with the suffering and pain of the people acquitted in terror cases because of their personal experience.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The founders of the Innocence Network divide their work in two categories -- &#39;reform&#39; and &#39;support&#39;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The group members aim to bring &#39;reforms&#39; in the current judicial system in order to ensure that the miscarriage of justice can be minimised.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Also, they plan to work on initiatives to &#39;support&#39; the people acquitted in terror cases, in order to rehabilitate them.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sharib Ali, the founder of Delhi-based social organisation, Quill Foundation, and a co-founder of the group, Innocence Network, tells WION: &quot;The network will also try to seek reforms for each of the contributors to wrongful conviction, laws that do not comply with international human rights standards, false confessions and torture, non-functioning legal aid, invalidated and improper investigation approaches, government misconduct and inadequate defence, and post-release surveillance.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The network also has a tribunal that consists of prominent Indian personalities ranging from the field of art and cinema to Indian judiciary.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

At the moment the jury of the tribunal is Justice AP Shah , former chief justice of Delhi High Court.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The group organised its first &#39;Peoples&#39; Tribunal on Acquitted Innocents&#39; on October 2 in the Indian national capital, New Delhi, on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who is considered to be the key figure of Indian independent struggle.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Individuals prosecuted for&nbsp;terror, from all parts of the country, came to New Delhi to participate in the inaugural meeting of the network and shared their experiences.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Dr Farookh Makhdoomi (accused in Malegaon Blast,2006), Shoeb Jagirdar &nbsp;(accused in 2007 Mecca Masjid Blast in southern Hyderabad state), Mohd Nisaruddin ( 1993 Mumbai train bombing), among several others.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Manisha Sethi, renowned Indian activist, who is also part of the network, told WION: &quot;The innocence network is an all India collective of individuals and organisations working for &nbsp;the rights of those who have been wrongfully prosecuted or convicted, under charges of terrorism. Led by the exonerees themselves. the network seeks reform at the criminal justice level to prevent the practice of unjust incarceration.It also aims to establish a &nbsp;support mechanism for exonerees to help rebuild their lives post-release.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Tales of torture&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The acquitted individuals, while speaking to the audience at the inaugural function of the network, blamed the justice system for ruining their lives and the lives of their families&nbsp;without even compensating them for the monetary and social losses they suffered.

&nbsp;

Mohammad Amir Khan, arrested on charges of planting bombs in Delhi and neighbouring states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana during the 1990s, described his ordeal to the audience saying: &quot;I left a happy family behind when I was picked up (by police), but 14 years later when I was acquitted, there was no one left in the family except an ailing mother, who had sold everything at her disposal to secure my release.&quot;

&nbsp;

&quot;In the initial days of my arrest, I was subjected to brutal physical torture. Later, I faced a different kind of discrimination in different jails, owing to my religious identity. I was not allowed to mingle with inmates. I was kept in solitary confinement for years and was not allowed to complete my degree programme from jail. I suffered all this for no reason,&quot; adds Amir.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Similar tales of torture&nbsp;and apathy were narrated by other individuals on the occasion.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Mohammad Nisaruudin, who was arrested in the 1993 Mumbai train bombing case, spent 23 years in jail before being acquitted.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

He asserted that there was a need to bring a clear and well-defined law&nbsp;that confessional statement in police custody cannot be admitted under any provision of the law, as they are obtained through torture.

&nbsp;

&quot;What is important is that through this platform (Innocence Network), we campaign for laws which bring an end to witch-hunting of people whether they are Muslims, Dalits or from other oppressed communities. We need to ensure that a law is introduced where confession statements secured by police is not taken into cognizance by the court,&quot; Nisaruudin said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

However, more than their own sufferings in the past, what also troubles these people&nbsp;is that if policing and judicial reforms are not introduced soon in India, the&nbsp;witch-hunting that they faced&nbsp;will continue unabated.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the network jury&nbsp;headed by former justice AP Shah, &nbsp;highlights: &nbsp;&quot;There is a need to make police accountable for wrongful investigations in terror cases. Acquittals in terror cases are different from acquittals in other criminal cases. It has been seen that in terror cases, police misleads the investigation deliberately, and thus it is important for courts to initiate proceedings against them and hold them accountable. Besides, it is also important for India to develop a legislative framework in order to compensate those who have been acquitted of terror charges.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION)&nbsp;

Inspired by Black Lives Matter movement, Innocence Network is an all-India initiave to help people falsely implicated under terror charges

"Initially, I was unaware that cops had arrested me. I thought I had been kidnapped. It was only after reaching the police station that I realised I was in police custody," 45-year-old Syed Wasif Haider recalls. "The arrest was followed by three days of continuous torture. I was made to sign confession statements and blank papers. Eventually, when I was produced in front of a district magistrate and I ended up saying that I had gone to Kashmir Valley to attend a (militant) training camp, " he adds. A software engineer by profession, Haider, who hails from northern Indian city of Kanpur, was arrested in the year 2000 Kanpur bomb blast case over charges of rioting leading to the death of additional district magistrate of the city, Chandra Prakash Pathak. Nine years after he was accused of the terror charges, he was acquitted by Allahabad High Court in 2009. It was not only him, however, who bore the brunt of the false terror charges. His daughter back home, who was told that his father had gone abroad for a "better job", often faced hateful comments by classmates for being a "terrorist's daughter". Seven years have passed since Haidar's acquittal. He, however, still claims to be living in social isolation. 'Reform' and 'support' Over the years, thousands of people from different parts of India have been implicated on false terror charges, says a newly constituted group, Innocence network, which aims to work across the country to ease the struggle of such people. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement that originated in the African-American community and campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people, Innocence Network is a group of 50 'socially responsible' individuals from different parts of India, who were once falsely implicated on charges of terror, but later proven innocent in court. The Innocence Network aims to bring judicial and policing reforms in India and rehabilitate the people who have been acquitted of terror charges × The members say they empathise with the suffering and pain of the people acquitted in terror cases because of their personal experience. The founders of the Innocence Network divide their work in two categories -- 'reform' and 'support'. The group members aim to bring 'reforms' in the current judicial system in order to ensure that the miscarriage of justice can be minimised. Also, they plan to work on initiatives to 'support' the people acquitted in terror cases, in order to rehabilitate them. Sharib Ali, the founder of Delhi-based social organisation, Quill Foundation, and a co-founder of the group, Innocence Network, tells WION: "The network will also try to seek reforms for each of the contributors to wrongful conviction, laws that do not comply with international human rights standards, false confessions and torture, non-functioning legal aid, invalidated and improper investigation approaches, government misconduct and inadequate defence, and post-release surveillance." The network also has a tribunal that consists of prominent Indian personalities ranging from the field of art and cinema to Indian judiciary. At the moment the jury of the tribunal is Justice AP Shah , former chief justice of Delhi High Court. The group organised its first 'Peoples' Tribunal on Acquitted Innocents' on October 2 in the Indian national capital, New Delhi, on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who is considered to be the key figure of Indian independent struggle. Individuals prosecuted for terror, from all parts of the country, came to New Delhi to participate in the inaugural meeting of the network and shared their experiences. Dr Farookh Makhdoomi (accused in Malegaon Blast,2006), Shoeb Jagirdar (accused in 2007 Mecca Masjid Blast in southern Hyderabad state), Mohd Nisaruddin ( 1993 Mumbai train bombing), among several others. Manisha Sethi, renowned Indian activist, who is also part of the network, told WION: "The innocence network is an all India collective of individuals and organisations working for the rights of those who have been wrongfully prosecuted or convicted, under charges of terrorism. Led by the exonerees themselves. the network seeks reform at the criminal justice level to prevent the practice of unjust incarceration.It also aims to establish a support mechanism for exonerees to help rebuild their lives post-release." Tales of torture The acquitted individuals, while speaking to the audience at the inaugural function of the network, blamed the justice system for ruining their lives and the lives of their families without even compensating them for the monetary and social losses they suffered. Mohammad Amir Khan, arrested on charges of planting bombs in Delhi and neighbouring states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana during the 1990s, described his ordeal to the audience saying: "I left a happy family behind when I was picked up (by police), but 14 years later when I was acquitted, there was no one left in the family except an ailing mother, who had sold everything at her disposal to secure my release." "In the initial days of my arrest, I was subjected to brutal physical torture. Later, I faced a different kind of discrimination in different jails, owing to my religious identity. I was not allowed to mingle with inmates. I was kept in solitary confinement for years and was not allowed to complete my degree programme from jail. I suffered all this for no reason," adds Amir. Similar tales of torture and apathy were narrated by other individuals on the occasion. Mohammad Nisaruudin, who was arrested in the 1993 Mumbai train bombing case, spent 23 years in jail before being acquitted. He asserted that there was a need to bring a clear and well-defined law that confessional statement in police custody cannot be admitted under any provision of the law, as they are obtained through torture. "What is important is that through this platform (Innocence Network), we campaign for laws which bring an end to witch-hunting of people whether they are Muslims, Dalits or from other oppressed communities. We need to ensure that a law is introduced where confession statements secured by police is not taken into cognizance by the court," Nisaruudin said. However, more than their own sufferings in the past, what also troubles these people is that if policing and judicial reforms are not introduced soon in India, the witch-hunting that they faced will continue unabated. Meanwhile, the network jury headed by former justice AP Shah, highlights: "There is a need to make police accountable for wrongful investigations in terror cases. Acquittals in terror cases are different from acquittals in other criminal cases. It has been seen that in terror cases, police misleads the investigation deliberately, and thus it is important for courts to initiate proceedings against them and hold them accountable. Besides, it is also important for India to develop a legislative framework in order to compensate those who have been acquitted of terror charges." (WION)

Innocent lives matter: Justice for those jailed on false terror charges

acquittal

Acquittal, News on Acquittal, stories on Acquittal, articles on Acquittal, Acquittal stories at Wion, Acquittal news, Acquittal latest news