Politicians, Activists, and More React to Guilty Verdict for Men Who Murdered Ahmaud Arbery

Travis McMichael, father Gregory McMichael, and neighbor William Bryan Jr. were all found guilty of murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery on Wednesday.

Travis McMichael is pictured in court.
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Image via Getty/Octavio Jones-Pool

Travis McMichael is pictured in court.

On Wednesday, all three white men were found guilty in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

Travis McMichael (pictured above), Travis’ father Gregory McMichael, and neighbor William Bryan Jr. were all found guilty of murder charges in the 2020 killing of 25-year-old Arbery. Notably, 35-year-old Travis McMichael—who pulled the trigger in the murder—was found guilty of all nine charges against him, including four counts of felony murder.

Arbery, who was Black, was unarmed when he was pursued and killed in the Georgia neighborhood of Satilla Shores last February. All three men, now facing possible life sentences, are also facing federal hate crime charges, as revealed in an indictment made public in April.

The jury delivered a guilty verdict in the Arbery trial https://t.co/EBCIvW52DD pic.twitter.com/2ulJOLxjAG

— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) November 24, 2021

Reactions to the jury’s decision were swift on Wednesday, with many commemorating the moment as an example of justice in action. Attorney Ben Crump, who works with the Arbery family, said in a statement that the family “finally has some justice” after nearly two years of suffering.

“Today certainly indicates progress, but we are nowhere close to the finish line,” Crump, who noted this should have been an “opened and closed” case, said. “America, you raised your voices for Ahmaud. Now is not the time to let them quiet. Keep marching. Keep fighting for what is right. And never stop running for Ahmaud.”

See additional reactions to the verdict below, including from Stacey Abrams, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, and more.

I'm grateful to the jury for their service and for a verdict that says Ahmaud Arbery’s life mattered. He was a son, a nephew, a child of God, and he did not deserve to die in this way.

I'm praying for Ahmaud’s family as they begin the difficult journey towards healing.

— Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) November 24, 2021

Our justice system too often fails Black individuals.

But today, truth prevailed and Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers are being held to account.

We know this verdict won’t erase the grief of Ahmaud’s family and friends.

But I pray it will bring comfort to know justice was served.

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 24, 2021

Ahmaud Arbery should be alive right now.

I'm pleased to see his murderers held accountable, but no verdict can bring him back.

For Ahmaud, and every life stolen by white supremacists, our fight for justice continues.

— Mondaire Jones (@MondaireJones) November 24, 2021

The true measure of justice is not in a verdict, but in making a future where people don’t live in fear of racialized violence.

We will not stop doing the long hard work to achieve this future.

— ACLU (@ACLU) November 24, 2021

My thoughts are with Ahmaud Arbery’s family. Praying they find all the peace that can be afforded them.

— Bree Newsome Bass (@BreeNewsome) November 24, 2021

These verdicts are justice for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. But true justice would be Ahmaud spending Thanksgiving with his family. I hope, we all hope, this brings some healing.

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 24, 2021

A jury believed the evidence of their eyes and saw the meanness in the killers’ hearts. May this verdict bring a small measure of peace to #AhmaudArbery’s family and loved ones. https://t.co/pGGQfIcUfX

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) November 24, 2021

All three men guilty of murder in the killing of #AhmaudArbery.

I will never believe that "justice" will be found in our criminal legal system, but I am happy Ahmaud's family can exhale a little more.

Be clear: The real justice is Ahmaud still being alive. Period.

— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) November 24, 2021

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