WASHINGTON – A United States jury found three white men guilty of federal hate crimes yesterday for the murder of a black man who was shot dead while jogging in their Georgia neighbourhood two years ago.
Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael, and their neighbour William Bryan were convicted of violating the civil rights of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old African-American man.
The McMichaels and Bryan are already serving life sentences after being found guilty in a state trial in November of the February 2020 murder of Arbery.
During the federal hate crimes trial, prosecutors recounted the alleged use by the three men of vulgar racial slurs and history of racism.
Arbery’s parents, Marcus Arbery and Wanda Cooper-Jones, and Attorney-General Merrick Garland welcomed the verdict.
“We got justice for Ahmaud,” Marcus told reporters.
“We got a victory today,” said Cooper-Jones, “but there’s so many families out there who don’t get victories.”
“I as a mum will never heal,” she added. “It’s been a very long stressful fight.”
Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney who represented the family, said Arbery was “lynched for jogging while black”.
“I believe this is the first time in the state of Georgia’s history where there has been a conviction for a federal hate crime,” he said.
Garland, at a press conference in Washington, said the Justice Department will “use every resource at its disposal to confront unlawful acts of hate and to hold accountable those who perpetrate them”.
“No one in this country should have to fear the threat of hate-fueled violence,” an emotional Garland said. “No one should fear being attacked or threatened because of what they look like, where they are from, whom they love, or how they worship.”
“And no one should fear that if they go out for a run, they will be targeted and killed because of the colour of their skin.” – AFP, February 23, 2022
