President Joe Biden’s official White House photo
President Joe Biden sees the verdict in the trial of Ahmaud Arbery‘s killing as a victory.
On Nov. 24, a jury found Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan guilty of murder for their roles in the killing of Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was out on a routine run before being shot.
The federal trial is set to begin in February 2022, and all three men may face life in prison if convicted on federal counts.
Arbery’s case remained unsolved for months following his death, as an original local newspaper story said he died while attempting a heist. The FBI initiated an inquiry shortly before a video of his murder surfaced nearly two months after he died. The world watched Arbery get stuck between two vehicles before being chased to his death after a radio station obtained the video.
“Ahmaud Arbery’s murder, which was seen on film and broadcast around the world, is a sobering reminder of how far we still have to go in the battle for racial justice in this nation,” Biden said in an official statement. “Mr. Arbery should be here today with his mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, and father, Marcus Arbery, to celebrate the holidays. Nothing can bring Mr. Arbery back to his family and community, but the verdict ensures that those responsible for this heinous crime will be held accountable.”
Biden then defended America’s current legal system while condemning racism.
“While guilty convictions represent our judicial system doing its job,” he said, “that alone is not enough.” “Instead, we must renew our commitment to a future of togetherness and shared strength, in which no one is afraid of violence because of their skin color.”
