Ja Morant, other athletes react to Kyle Rittenhouse verdict

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Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges Friday, pleading self-defense in a deadly shooting in Kenosha, Wis.

The Rittenhouse trial became a subject of controversy as debates around gun laws, vigilantism and racial injustice remain prevalent in the U.S.

Rittenhouse had been charged with homicide, attempted homicide and reckless endangerment after killing two men and wounding a third with an AR-15 rifle at a protest in the summer of 2020.

Current and former athletes from around the sports world reacted to the verdict and called out the hypocrisy of the laws in Wisconsin.

Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant said he was not surprised with the verdict shortly after it was announced.

Memphis rapper Young Dolph was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon in front of a cookie shop.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell responded to Morant's tweet echoing a similar sentiment.

Former Washington and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III questioned the justice system after Rittenhouse was acquitted while Julius Jones was given a life sentence without parole after killing businessman Paul Howell during a carjacking in 1999.

Former Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas wrote on Twitter that he worries for his own life and the lives of his children after seeing the news of the Rittenhouse verdict.

"You can be white and get away with anything!!!!" Thomas said in the tweet. "Im scared for my life and my kids' life."

Former San Francisco 49ers QB and social activist Colin Kaepernick argued that the country needs to abolish the current system in order to stop what he views as "terroristic acts" of white supremacy.

NBC Sports Chicago will continue to update news from around the sports world as it unfolds.  

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