Guilty of Federal Hate Crimes

“The conviction is significant for many reasons, in particular that it recognizes the role of race in the attack and killing of the unarmed young Black jogger and all but ensures the defendants will serve additional prison time.”

The federal verdict is in on the three men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery in broad daylight two years ago for “running while Black.”

They had already been found guilty of his murder, but the second federal trial confirmed that they murdered him out of “racial resentment.”

In the original trial, race was mostly kept out of it- but not this time. Texts, messages and more rolled out showing a long history of hatred and racism in the murderous family and community.

“A guilty verdict and additional prison time may help give the Arbery family some peace, and that is significant. The more central question of this federal trial, amid continuing debates about the effectiveness of hate crime laws, is whether such laws have a deterring effect on racist violence.”

Will this outcome bring more justice to others who have suffered from hate crimes?

Will it strike some fear into those who have so blatantly been acting on their racism?

Will it force police and lawyers to work on their own racism?

It is hard to say.

But one thing we know, is at least Maud’s family feels seen, heard and respected.

Tomorrow, 2/23 will be known as Ahmaud Arbery day in Georgia.

We hope he is resting, wherever he is, or enjoying a peaceful run, feeling more free now that his killers are facing justice.

(Quotes from https://www.vox.com/22922329/ahmaud-arbery-hate-crimes-federal-trial-guilty)