Since 2020, February 23rd marks the day my family again relives the tragic lynching of Ahmaud in Satilla Shores. In less than twenty (20) days, I, as a father, bear the indescribable loss of a child. There is no word in English to describe a parent’s loss of a child. Today’s verdict in the Jackie Johnson trial is a bitter conclusion of the fight to hold Johnson criminally accountable. “We promised, at Ahmaud’s gravesite, that we would fight for complete justice for him, and we will continue to fight to get Justice for Ahmaud,” said Marcus Arbery, the father of Ahmaud Arbery.
Mr. Arbery continued, “Although we acknowledge today’s verdict, we will never accept the injustice that my youngest son, Ahmaud, experienced during the vicious 5-minute manhunt, capture, and senseless killing. No amount of litigation can bring Ahmaud back to life. Our family will forever be traumatized by his killing.”
“What we witnessed through this trial is the depth of collusion and corruption in Glynn County’s Police Department and the District Attorney’s office. This case has shown that the blue wall of protection between fellow police officers and law enforcement officials is alive and well in Glynn County and the neighboring Waycross Judicial Circuit,” says Attorney Daryl D. Jones. Co-leader and Board Chair of the Transformative Justice Coalition.
All of the trials have been painful to watch. Our dedication to justice for Ahmaud and our strength in God have carried us through these trials. “Many troubling occurrences surrounded the mishandling of this case by the Glynn County Police Department and our elected prosecutor. While Jackie Johnson’s charges may not have met the criminal system’s burden of proof, her actions and inactions did cause pain an unparalleled burden to this family,” said Barbara R. Arnwine, President and Founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition. Arnwine continued, “The suffering from the delayed prosecution and stress from all of these cases will stay with the Arbery family eternally.”
“This ordeal has underscored to our family the importance of voting for local prosecutors who possess unbiased integrity and will keep the community’s trust in prosecuting cases,” added Diane Arbery Jackson. Arnwine further stated that “the Arbery family has traveled across this country encouraging communities to be involved in local elections, especially those involving local prosecutors. Jacquelyn Johnson’s prosecution has strengthened their resolve to stay in the fight and continue to encourage communities to vote in local elections.” As a family, Mr. Abery stated, “We believe there is blood on the hands of Jackie Johnson, and it is the blood of my son, Ahmaud Arbery. The lies she told have no place in law enforcement, and we remain hopeful that the current convictions remain in place. As a family, we will also review all options, including reviewing again her law license.”
The Arbery family thanks jury members for their time, service, and commitment to being good citizens. We also thank all those people and organizations that have stood steadfast beside us over these many hard years.
Our hearts will forever grieve Ahmaud’s brutal slaying! We will continue to honor his legacy every February 23, and our bodies are blessed to breathe every day. We will continue to fight for 100% Justice for Ahmaud and will join others who are fighting for justice for their slain children throughout this nation who are committed to equal justice and civil rights protection.
