I can't see how this can end well either way myself. If he gets convicted, there will be riots. It won't be a protest that got out of hand or was infiltrated/used by anarchists. It will be a riot from the start.

Even though jail is the safest place in this country for him. If he gets acquitted, he'll be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. He's not innocent. He may or may not be guilty by the letter of the law, but he's not innocent. Everybody knows it. If he gets acquitted, it's as you said. It's open season for vigilantes.

Here's the thing. You make it open season for vigilantes. You make it open season for a response too. Rittenhouse is an obvious first choice. Open season on police. Open season on Congress. Open season on judges. Open season on church leaders preaching hate and nonsense. Open season on media. Open season.