The justice system is doing its job, but there's still work to be done, according to President Joe Biden.
"Ahmaud Arbery's killing, witnessed by the world on video, is a devastating reminder of how far we have to go in the fight for racial justice in this country," Biden said in a statement. Mr. Arbery should be with his mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, and his father, Marcus Arbery, today.
A jury in Georgia found four people guilty of murdering a man while he was jogging. The trio were chasing Arbery in a pickup truck when he was killed.
All three men pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The verdict ensures that those who committed this horrible crime will be punished, even though nothing can bring Mr. Arbery back to his family and community.
The jury selection process for the case lasted 2 1/2 weeks and resulted in the selection of 11 white jurors and one Black juror, even though roughly 25% of the county's population is Black, Insider previously reported.
Biden said that he would work to ensure that equal justice under the law is a reality for all Americans.
The guilty verdicts reflect the work of the justice system. "We must build a future of unity and shared strength, where no one fears violence because of the color of their skin."
The date is November 24, 2021.
Vice President Harris took aim at the defense team in the case, while reiterating her sympathy for the Arbery family.
She said that the defense counsel set a tone that cast the attendance of ministers at the trial as intimidation and dehumanized a young Black man. Despite these tactics, the jury arrived at its verdict.
The attorney for Bryan stood up in court and told the judge that he didn't want any more Black pastors.
Laura Hogue brought up Arbery's toenails during closing arguments, prompting outrage and accusations of using racist tropes.
Hogue told the jury that turning Ahmaud Arbery into a victim after the choices he made did not reflect the reality of what brought him to Satilla Shores.
Ahmaud Arbery was a son. He was a brother. He was a friend of mine. His life had meaning. We won't forget him. Harris said that they honor him best by continuing the fight for justice.
Biden said last week that he was "disappointed" in the jury's decision to acquit Kyle Rittenhouse, who was accused of killing two men and wounding a third during antiracism protests in Wisconsin in 2020.
I stand by what the jury has said. Biden told reporters at the White House that the jury system works. He said in a statement that he was angry and concerned about the verdict.
"I know that we're not going to heal our country's wounds overnight, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to do everything in my power to ensure that every American is treated equally, with fairness and dignity, under the law," Biden said in that statement.
