KENOSHA, Wis. — A protester who had clashed with Black Lives Matter supporters at the Kyle Rittenhouse trial returned outside the courthouse toting an AR-15-style rifle Wednesday.
The man, who referred to himself as “Maserati Mike,” arrived carrying a megaphone in addition to the long rifle and what appeared to be a bulletproof vest.
He was briefly questioned by authorities who asked him to leave, citing a law that prohibits rifles within 1,000 feet of a school.
Shortly after, he drove away in his banged-up Maserati, only to return about an hour later sans rifle.
“Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization,” the man, who appeared to have a knife in his pocket, shouted into a megaphone.
When approached for an interview, he replied, “I don’t speak to the media.”
The alarming appearance comes a day after he had sparred with Black Lives Matter protesters who were shouting, “No justice, no peace.”
“F–k Black Lives Matter,” the man fired back at the group.
“If the glove don’t fit, acquit,” he added.
Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, during protests against police brutality on Aug. 25, 2020.
In anticipation of a verdict in the case, Gov. Tony Evers called 500 National Guard members to the area to be on standby to handle any unrest.
“Kenoshans are strong, resilient, and have worked hard to heal and rebuild together over the past year,” he wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
“Any efforts to sow division and hinder that healing are unwelcome in Kenosha and Wisconsin. Regardless of the outcome in this case, I urge peace in Kenosha and across our state.”