Ahmaud Arbery would have turned 26 Friday.
To honor Arbery, who was shot three times during a Feb. 23 confrontation with a Brunswick father and son, Travis McMichael, 34, and Greg McMichael, 64, people around the country are dedicating their daily jog or walk to him and posting about it on social media with the hashtags #RunWithMaud and #IRunWithMaud.
A video that has gone viral shows Arbery jogging and slowing down when approaching a pick-up truck, trying to loop around the truck before being engaged by the McMichaels. Another driver, William Bryan, took the video from behind Arbery. Thursday night, Travis and Greg McMichael were charged with murder and aggravated assault in the shooting death of Arbery, who was unarmed.
I find solace in knowing that the murderers who killed Ahmaud will have their day in front of Allah.
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) May 8, 2020
Until then, we will fight. We will WALK, JOG or RUN 2.23 miles in his memory 💔 #IRunWithMaud pic.twitter.com/wPtYRPaq2I
Could have been my son or my players! #RunWithMaud @shaunking pic.twitter.com/1wd0MEzjkW
— VCMBB (@CoachDerrickM) May 8, 2020
Today, I run for a man I don’t know. Today, I run for a situation that I cannot understand. Today, I run for racial injustice that hurts my heart and angers my soul.
— Danielle O'Neil 🏃♀️👩👧 (@DanielleONeil_) May 8, 2020
Today, #IrunwithMaud. Every day I will continue to run for those who can’t. pic.twitter.com/iBdxbKjvfH
Today would have been Ahmaud Arbery’s 26th birthday. We #runwithmaud in solidarity. We run for Ahmaud, we run for his mother Wanda who will have her first mothers day without her baby boy. We run for justice! #runwithmaud #justiceforahmaud #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/f0dpiuae9y
— Michelle Garske (@MrsGarske2019) May 8, 2020
not usually a runner, but today #IrunwithMaud pic.twitter.com/aOY9hsrkPp
— colew (@williamsoncole1) May 8, 2020
Happy Birthday Ahmaud. This one’s for you. 🤍 #Irunwithmaud pic.twitter.com/9VI1hMKljP
— megan (@cltmegs) May 8, 2020
This is me. Out for a run. Where my biggest concern was trying to take this stupid selfie, NOT worrying that I might be profiled or killed b/c of my skin color. This is one of the many ways I have privilege. It’s 2020, America - do better. #RunWithMaud #JusticeForAhmaudArbery pic.twitter.com/HJ0X102aXg
— Meredith Evans Seeley (@Meredith_Seeley) May 7, 2020
Wishing Ahmaud a happy heavenly birthday. Praying that he is at peace & that God sends strength and comfort to his loved ones. #Runwithmaud #runwithahmaud pic.twitter.com/xAQEaIDvM9
— Tay.0 (@Kato_MaTAY) May 8, 2020
Lots of people chose to run or walk 2.23 miles, which corresponds with Feb. 23, the date Arbery was killed.
Today’s 2.23 mile run included a lot of prayer. Praying for Ahmaud Arbery’s family, my family, friends, and our nation that still has the disease racism. It’s disgusting and heartbreaking. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. #runwithmaud pic.twitter.com/8mzb91tzAV
— Sarah Richardson (@__srichardson) May 8, 2020
Maud, I couldn’t run because I’m 20 years older than you and I have arthritis. Had to walk. You would’ve loved today here in Georgia. So beautiful out for running or walking. I wish I could have walked with you. May you rest in peace and may we never forget. #RunWithMaud pic.twitter.com/JLgcJaVqnc
— Greg Goebel (@GoebelGreg) May 8, 2020
This situation has had my blood boiling! But I will leave that for another time. Let’s all honor this young man today who was simply doing what many of love (running) when he was hunted down by two racists #RunWithMaud #IrunwithMaud #AhmaudAubrey pic.twitter.com/7ZBybkv1WM
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) May 8, 2020
The only thing that mattered this morning. 2.23 #RunWithMaud pic.twitter.com/MrmKgWRmH9
— Brita Domino (@coach_bdomino1) May 8, 2020
#IrunwithMaud 2.23 miles into my run to honor this young man’s life. He was hunted down and killed because of the color of his skin. May he Rest In Peace and justice served. pic.twitter.com/UvWzFH1daI
— Laura Smith (@ljantonietta) May 8, 2020
Happy Birthday young brother. Let’s hope justice gets served! #2.23 #RunWithMaud Rest easy🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/p4beCCXGH5
— Leconte Nix (@CoachNix25) May 8, 2020
Many tried to find additional ways to honor Arbery, with one runner getting up at 2:23 a.m. to begin her jog, and one pausing to say a prayer at mile 2.23 before he continued running.
This morning, I made it a priority to get up extra early to begin running at exactly 2:23am. Ahmaud Arbery, may your soul rest peacefully and justice be served. #IRunWithMaud pic.twitter.com/HwHIjLGOye
— Tia (@1tiabia) May 8, 2020
Happy Birthday Ahmaud Arbery💪🏾 !! today, @ mile 2:23🏃🏾...I stopped and said a🙏🏾 to honor the day you were murdered (2-23-20), then completed an additional four miles to honor your birthday today🎂 #irunwithmaud pic.twitter.com/Itr5AJO66u
— D (@R_nr4life) May 8, 2020
In addition to individuals or families honoring Arbery on their own, more formal walks and jogs have also been organized. On Friday, hundreds gathered for a rally outside the Glynn County courthouse Friday, and an #IRunWithMaud Dedication Walk hosted by two members of the Cobb County School Board is taking place at the Taylor-Brawner Park in Smyrna, with social distancing precautions a priority amid the coronavirus (participants are asked to wear a mask, keep six feet apart and stay home if experiencing illness).
The Action PAC has also organized a #RunWithMaud initiative.
We gotta do something, anything! We are fighters. Our ancestors fought 400yrs, so even as we are in a better place overall, we still gotta fight these battles. Rewarded victories or lost victims we have to stand for something or they’ll let us fall for anything. #RunWithMaud pic.twitter.com/GDLO7dfKbI
— TStreeter (@TStreeter32) May 8, 2020
Sign up to #RunWithMaud this weekend. And text “JUSTICE” to 55156 https://t.co/AON7WKsJam
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) May 7, 2020