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Google PlayExactly two years after Ahmaud Arbery’s murder, the state of Georgia confirmed that Feb. 23 will be recognized as Ahmaud Arbery Day going forward.
Per the New York Times, the Georgia Assembly passed a resolution to declare the day in tribute to Arbery this month. The unarmed Black jogger was chased and murdered by father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael in 2020, while their friend William Bryan followed and filmed the whole thing. The Georgia General Assembly called Arbery one of the state’s “most distinguished citizens,” and said he lost his life “because of the color of his skin.
The McMichaels and Bryan were given life sentences on malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment charges last month. Arbery was 25 years old when he was pursued and gunned down by the men in the Satilla Shores neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020. They were additionally found guilty of federal hate crimes this week, with prosecutors highlighting racist text messages and social media activity from the three men.
To mark the two-year anniversary of his murder, a vigil will also be held in Satilla Shores followed by a candlelit march.
“After nearly two years of pain, suffering, and wondering if Ahmaud’s killers would be held to account, the Arbery family finally has some justice,” said Arbery family attorney Ben Crump when the news of the three men’s convictions was revealed. “Nothing will bring back Ahmaud, but his family will have some peace knowing the men who killed him will remain behind bars and can never inflict their brand of evil on another innocent soul.”
When the federal hate crime charges were announced this month, NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said the verdict brings the nation “one step closed to justice.”
