WAYCROSS, Ga. — Dozens gathered outside of Macedonia Baptist Church for a “walk for justice” to honor Ahmaud Arbery on Saturday.
The 25-year-old was shot and killed in February.
Cellphone video showing the final moments before Arbery’s death was leaked this week. It has since sparked national attention. In the video, you see two men stopped in the middle of the road as Arbery approached them. Then, you hear three gunshots before Arbery falls to the ground.
Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, were arrested and charged Thursday with murder and assault in connection with Arbery’s death — more than two months after the deadly shooting.
The men told police they believed Arbery was breaking into homes in their Satilla Shores neighborhood. When they saw him running past their home on a Sunday afternoon, they grabbed their guns and went after him. Family and friends said Arbery was an avid runner.
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It was a case of “modern day lynching,” Gwen McClendon said. “And, today a mother doesn’t have her child. That’s got to stop.”
McClendon was one of 40 people walking the streets of Waycross for Arbery. She lives in Los Angelos but was visiting family in Waycross. She said she felt compelled to come and show support.
“I could not not come,” McClendon said.
Action News Jax reporter Meghan Moriarty walked alongside demonstrators for 4.2 miles. Waycross police escorted the group through town to show solidarity.
“We can not have three more years of Barnhill and the corruption that has taken place”
— Meghan Moriarty (@MeghanANjax) May 9, 2020
Demonstrators asking for DA George Barnhill’s resignation. He wrote a letter to Glynn Co police saying he didn’t believe the McMichaels men should be charged with #AhmaudArbery’s murder pic.twitter.com/B4rHcsUbKX
The Rev. Ferrell Malone organized the demonstration.
“We’re going to bring politicians into accountability to make sure that they do the right thing,” Malone said, referring to the district attorneys from Brunswick and Waycross.
Jackie Johnson is the Glynn County district attorney who recused herself from the case because Gregory McMichael used to work in her office.
George Barnhill took over the case. He also eventually recused himself, but not before writing a letter to the Glynn County Police Department saying he did not believe the McMichaels should be arrested.
“It is totally a cover-up,” Malone said. “This was planned. This was a planned murder.”
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