BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Opening statements are set to begin in the trial of three men accused in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. The 25-year-old was shot and killed while jogging in a Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick back in February 2020. Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan are all charged with his murder.
“Our hope is the judge will be firm, he will stick to facts of the case, what’s known,” Barbara Arnwine, representative for Marcus Arbery (Arbery’s father) and President of the Transformative Justice Coalition, said.
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Even before the beginning of jury selection, groups have gathered to show support for the Arbery family. After yet another march through the streets of Brunswick and a town hall on Thursday night, Daryl Jones, representative for Marcus Arbery and co-leader of the Transformative Justice Coalition tells Action News Jax they don’t plan to stop.
“We are with you. We are here standing with you. We want justice for Ahmaud too. We understand the incorrectness of what has happened and make sure justice served,” Jones said.
The jury consists of 11 white people and one Black person. While Jones says this isn’t ideal, they’re hoping for justice.
“This will be a true measure of how far we’ve come as a community and a country as they reach for the verdict and justice for Ahmaud in this case,” Jones said.
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For all those involved in the march, they say they’ll be with the Arbery family every step of the way.
“When you see the anguish in the family, but then the unity in the family, it makes you want to come back over and over again to fight for them. It’s just for Ahmaud until the end, until the very end,” activist Porchse Miller said.
Lawyers from either side did not speak after they wrapped up on Friday.
The judge said he expects to seat and swear the jury in on Friday so opening statements could begin.
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