Kenosha residents hope to start healing process following Rittenhouse verdict

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- As protests continue over the Rittenhouse verdict around the country, Kenosha is quiet Saturday night.

Just a day after the high-controversial Kyle Rittenhouse trial verdict was read at Kenosha County Courthouse, the area outside the courthouse is silent Saturday.

Chalk graffiti and police cars are the only evidence that any gathering took place Saturday.

Residents and business owners tell CBS 58 they're looking to move past the Rittenhouse trial.

"I think right now, while we like the verdict or not, I think we're feeling a little bit better that it's behind us," said local business owner Jim Gourlet.

Business owners say they just want to get to healing their community after nervously waiting for if anything would transpire following the verdict.

People who live near the courthouse say the silence is it's, in part, what they expected.

"I was expecting it to be pretty quiet, you know Kenosha was a lot more prepared if something did happen, and it's cold, so you're just not going to have as many people out. It's kind of anti-climactic compared to what was going on in the Summer," said Byron Wright.

Wright says he is glad that chaos and property loss at places like car lots and local businesses, some of which are still boarded up from last year's protests, didn't come back this year.

"You know what happened in the summer cost a lot of people in Kenosha a lot of anxiety and a lot of property loss, it was a very disturbing summer for those of us who have lived here for a long time," said Wright.

Now, local leadership is looking to try and move forward in an inclusive way.

"I think that the city and the county are both working to ensure that there is inclusion by having local community members be on boards and make decisions, make suggestions and recommendations on how we move forward. It's going to take time but I think we've started that healing," said Kenosha County 4th District Supervisor Laura Belsky.

Activity outside the courthouse is expected to pick up again on Sunday, Nov. 21, as a protest led by the family of Jacob Blake family is scheduled.