On the one-year anniversary of the death of Ahmaud Arbery, President Joe Biden shared a message of remembrance and solidarity on Twitter.
“A Black man should be able to go for a jog without fearing for his life,” Biden said in a tweet. “Today, we remember Ahmaud Arbery’s life and we dedicate ourselves to making this country safer for people of color.”
Arbery was shot and killed on Feb. 23, 2020, when he was confronted by three men who accused him of robbery while he was out jogging. No charges were filed against the three men until months later when video of the shooting went viral and inspired a national outcry.
Travis McMichael, his father Greg McMichael and William Bryan, the three suspects in the case, have each been charged with felony murder and remain in jail after each was denied bond. Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the three suspects and multiple county officials alleging a conspiracy among local law enforcement agencies to cover up her son’s killing.
Arbery’s death, along with those of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, contributed to nationwide protests for racial justice and police reform that lasted months. The protests themselves became a political flashpoint and an issue frequently debated during the 2020 presidential election.
Along with Biden’s tweet and Cooper-Jones’ lawsuit, Arbery’s death was marked by an Atlanta Track Club event called Run with Maud. The club encouraged participants to undertake a 2.23-mile run “in memory of Ahmaud and in recognition of the systemic racism that led to his death.” Cooper-Jones also told the AJC that her family would hold a Vigil for Arbery Tuesday.
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