#justiceforahmaud

Ahmaud Arbery. he was shot and killed by these two men while running in the middle of the day in a suburban neighborhood in february. he was killed because he is black. he was killed because of our deeply shushed brokenness. these two men didn't even get arrested. they were let go because of 'citizens right to arrest' laws and supposed self defense. an unarmed black man punching one of them to defend himself against one of two gunmen- and they were not even arrested because they were defending themselves? these are the deep deep lies. this is the disgusting, horrid, oppressive, unjust sickness that continues to rot at the core of our country. WE HAVE TO INSIST THAT IT STOP. ALL OF US.

i didn't want to watch the video but i made myself- could it really be as simple as that? YES. IT WAS. it was as simple as 2 angry scared fools shooting a young black man to death- again- and no justice being served. i feel physically ill.

rose just turned 11. for her birthday she wanted to eat pizza and watch 'just mercy' with her white family. it's an incredible movie. it's about racism and injustice and majorly broken systems. it's about voicelessness and powerlessness. just like this. just like what is happening right now with ahmaud arbery. 

do you feel sick? because you should. 

when i was 22 years old i was driving home in the rain from my premed chemistry lab and a drunk irishman came out of a pub and stumbled in front of my car. i hit the breaks but because of the wet road i skid into him and he flew over my car and landed in the street. i pulled over in a state of shock- sure that i'd just killed someone and was going to jail. it was right near the fire department so in no time there was an ambulance taking him to the hospital for his broken leg (only, thank God). at the same time the ambulance came, a kind black man walked over to check on me as i was a mess. he calmed me down and sat with me and assured me that the man would be okay. about this time the victim's brothers came out of the pub to see where their brother was and what all the sirens were for. the police told them he'd been hit and to go to the hospital. what happened next was unbelievable. the policeman came over to take the statement about what happened. i told them exactly where i was driving, how fast, when i saw him, him hitting my car etc. then they turned to the gentleman who had stopped and asked him to tell them what really happened and that i shouldn't cover for him. the police and the brothers proceeded to all try to pin the accident on the black good samaritan who had stopped to help me! i remember the conglomeration of feelings vividly. at first i truly couldn't understand how they could be confused. i tried to reason with them about the events and the logic and give them proof. then i realized they were literally trying to get me off the hook and pin it on this guy. they were trying to say that he was driving my car. i was enraged. i was yelling that this was the only person who had come over to help me, that i didn't know him so how could he be driving my car, and that how dare they try to accuse him of anything! and i kept profusely apologizing to him. (as i write this for the first time ever, i am realizing they were probably trying to say he carjacked my car, then hit the guy, that never had occurred to me until right now.)
it was a moment of shame. for me it was shocking, but for him? sadly, i bet it wasn't. i bet he wasn't surprised. and that is sickening too. 

imagine if Mr. Aubrey was your son. 

no really. imagine. your son comes home from college, goes for a run before lunch and doesn't come home because he's dead.

or image that he could be your son. that your son is someone of color and that could happen to him, and no one even arrests the killers. and it's minor news. NO ONE ARRESTS THE SHOOTERS. or that it could happen to your brother, your father, your uncle, your cousin, any of your neighbors. 

and if this was in reverse? you know what would have happened. and that difference is sickening too.

IT IS NOT OKAY. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO FEEL BAD. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CRY. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO FEEL ANGRY. WE NEED TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR HIM. WE NEED TO DEMAND THESE MEN BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL WITH AN APPROPRIATE JURY THAT INCLUDES THE PEERS OF THE VICTIM TOO. 

sign the petition, make the call. pay attention. be a voice. (in case you are wondering, i pretty sure this is what Jesus would do)




here is what you can do:
Call GA Gov Kemp's office 404-656-1776 and demand justice for Ahmaud Abrey
also their website: www.gov.ga.gov then go to 'contact us' then constituents then services and leave a message
also can call the Attorney General 404-656-3300

 #JUSTICEFORAHMAUD