(Washington, D.C.) – A Georgia jury has found three white men guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was viciously attacked while jogging. The full range of convictions includes various criminal counts, such as malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and false imprisonment.
The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, president and executive director with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
“The senseless killing of Ahmaud Arbery, an innocent man who was targeted because he was “jogging while Black,” continues to sting. Mr. Arbery should be at home, sharing the holidays with his family, like so many other Americans. So, these jury verdicts do not bring full justice to a grieving family. But the verdicts do offer a sign of hope to them and all people of conscience.
“A jury with only one Black juror, even with racial dog whistles from defense counsel, recognized and honored Ahmaud Arbery’s humanity as much as it punished his murderers for their depravity. The jurors sent a signal about accountability for the racist violence and harassment that inherently ignores the humanity of Black people.
“We must continue fighting to address not only individual acts of racist vigilante violence, but also the archaic systems of institutional and societal racism that set the context for some to think they can engage in this behavior with impunity. We will not rest until every person is afforded equitable protection, justice, and dignity.”
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About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law— The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visit https://lawyerscommittee.org.
