Ahmaud Arbery Protesters Rally, White Supporters Urge Diversity in Justice Movement

Hundreds of protesters, some arriving from Atlanta in a caravan, gathered in Brunswick, Georgia today to support Ahmaud Arbery’s family as outrage continues to grow amid allegations of cronyism and misconduct on the part of prosecutors and law enforcement.

“Together, we’re with this Arbery family,” Rev. Derrick Rice said.

Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old Black man, was shot and killed in February by a white father and son, Greg and Travis McMichael. McMichael had worked for law enforcement in Glynn County, Georgia for years. The prosecutors who first investigated the case declined to file charges, citing self-defense, and are now under investigation. Charges were not filed against the McMichaels until a video of the shooting incident went viral.

At the weekend rally, Taylor Ritz, a candidate for Glynn County Commissioner said, “There are those who are afraid you will find your power and use it.”

Ritz, who is white, described a culture where Arbery lost his life jogging while “a world that gives me the benefit of the doubt” would have yielded a different outcome in a similar scenario.

Invitation to Cross-Cultural Unity

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Glynn County Police Department is historically racially insensitive, writing “A grand jury last year faulted the department for a culture of coverup and abuse of power.”

Rev. Dr. Jane Page, who described herself as a lifetime member of the NAACP, addressed the crowd, acknowledging the deeply entrenched attitudes perpetuated by many whites about Black Americans.

She said, “My parents didn’t have to overtly teach me to be a racist…my whole society taught me.”

Page called for working together beyond race and religion.

The Unitarian preacher said, “We don’t have that old Jim Crow stuff anymore. But, we sure have the new Jim Crow. It is in our criminal justice system and our children are still being brought up in a society that has pervasive, systemic racism. Some say we shouldn’t shame white folks about their past, but this isn’t just about the past. And, if you’re white, and you’re not somewhat ashamed…something’s wrong with you. I know shame isn’t somewhere you want to leave, but we can work through it.”

As she left the podium, she led the crowd in a chant: “I run with Maud. I run with Maud. I run with Maud.”