Gerald Griggs: We want Justice for ‘Maud

After marching for Justice for Ahmaud Arbery for astir 2 years, I can’t judge I’m penning this piece. Few radical cognize this, but I was 1 of the archetypal to larn of Ahmaud Arbery’s execution by 3 equipped vigilantes. I’ve seen immoderate brutal cases successful my 17 years arsenic a lawyer, and this 1 was by acold 1 of the worst.

With Arbery’s Attorney, Lee Merritt, Activist and Journalist, Shaun King, the Georgia NAACP, and Media Strategist, Dontaye Carter, we developed a strategy to rise consciousness astir this murder. We launched the video connected societal media, and we traveled to Brunswick to instrumentality a basal for Justice.

Seventy days aft Arbery’s murder, mundane radical worldwide helped america marque the video spell viral. They were conscionable shocked and appalled, and it forced Georgia into the International spotlight. Activists, Attorneys, and Citizens contacted the GBI. In my capableness arsenic the Attorney for the Georgia NAACP, I personally spoke with the GBI Director to marque definite that a afloat probe and charges would beryllium pursued. We took autobus trips from Atlanta with State Lawmakers and walked the scene, and talked with witnesses. We helped the citizens of Glynn elevate their voices for Justice successful peaceful protests.

Millions of Americans ran with Maud, and the transgression justness strategy responded with a predominately achromatic assemblage but for 1 Black person. They ignored our calls for diverseness successful court.

When our Civil Rights Icons traveled to Brunswick to support the eyes of this federation connected the deficiency of Justice for Arbery, the attorneys for the McMichaels said they didn’t privation immoderate much Black pastors successful the courtroom.  At each crook for Justice, they’ve tried to soundlessness us.

We don’t person clip to beryllium silenced erstwhile the reddish clay that runs beneath our feet cries for Justice. Lynchings aren’t a pastime for us. Lynchings are our todays, our tomorrows, and prevarication successful the aboriginal for our children.

Now is the clip to nonstop a connection that we request Justice for Ahmaud. You can’t marque a citizen’s apprehension for a non-felony.  The instrumentality says, “A backstage idiosyncratic whitethorn apprehension an offender if the discourtesy is committed successful his beingness oregon wrong his contiguous knowledge. If the discourtesy is simply a felony and the offender is escaping oregon attempting to escape, a backstage idiosyncratic whitethorn apprehension him upon tenable and probable grounds of suspicion.” Furthermore, the McMichael’s ne'er told constabulary during the archetypal probe that they were attempting to marque a citizen’s arrest.

It’s clip to nonstop a wide connection that Freedom Summer 2020 hasn’t stopped. Now that the proceedings has begun, galore emotions travel done our community, but the main absorption remains Justice, and we are hopeful for the household of Arbery. After hundreds of marches done Southeast Georgia and Metro Atlanta, the assemblage is marching to the courthouse for Justice. We anticipation that Georgia gets this right. Our ancestors beryllium connected Georgia to get this right. The telephone for Justice won’t halt until they worth our lives due to the fact that Black Lives Matter. Justice for each Black idiosyncratic murdered due to the fact that of racism matters. I basal with the families successful Georgia and crossed the nation. The Atlanta and Georgia NAACP volition proceed to combat for Justice.

What bash we want?

Justice!

When bash we privation it?

Now!