Georgia Announces February 23 Will Be Ahmaud Arbery Day

It has been two years since Ahmaud Arbery was murdered, and since his death, his three killers have been rightfully convicted. Now, Georgia has declared Feb. 23 as Ahmaud Arbery Day from here on.

The New York Times reported that the Georgia Assembly passed a resolution confirming the day in tribute to Arbery, who was unarmed and Black while jogging the day he was chased and killed by father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael, and their friend William Bryan who followed and filmed the whole thing.

The Georgia General Assembly said that Arbery was one of the state’s “most distinguished citizens” and that he lost his life “because of the color of his skin.”

In January, the McMichaels and Bryan were sentenced to life on malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment charges. Arbery was only 25 years old when the men pursued and gunned him down in the Satilla Shores neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020.

The trio was also found guilty of federal hate crimes earlier this week, with prosecutors highlighting racist text messages and social media activity from all three. 

A vigil will also be held in Satilla Shores, followed by a candlelit march in remembrance of Arbery.

“After nearly two years of pain, suffering, and wondering if Ahmaud’s killers would be held to account, the Arbery family finally has some justice,” said Arbery family attorney Ben Crump when the news of the three men’s convictions was revealed. “Nothing will bring back Ahmaud, but his family will have some peace knowing the men who killed him will remain behind bars and can never inflict their brand of evil on another innocent soul.”