Many of Hollywood’s biggest names are demanding justice for Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed in a fatal shooting while out for a jog in Brunswkck, Georgia.
The shooting occurred in February but only recently gained national attention, after a video, which shows Ahmaud running before being confronted by two armed men then collapsing on the ground after three shots were fired, went viral on social media.
Several celebrities have gone on social media to express their outrage and call for justice for Ahmaud.
“I’m absolutely devastated and horrified by the senseless, cold blooded, racially motivated killing of Ahmaud Arbery. #JusticeForAhmaud,” Taylor Swift tweeted.
Kim Kardashian went on Instagram Story to urge fans to sign a petition so that charges against the two men will be filed.
“Ahmaud Arbery. Went for a jog. Chased down. Hunted. Murdered. Its been months and his killers walk free. I dont want to beg, plead, reason, cry, or scream for you to see us as worthy of our breath. If you need to be cajoled into empathy, you are not who you think you are. I don’t want to wonder if you see our humanity. What do you see when you cast your eyes on us? We are worthy of peace, joy, grace, compassion, and every damn protection we are afforded by existing. We shot past sick and tired a long time ago. May God hold Ahmaud Arbery’s family and loved ones up to the light of goodness and hold them there. We keep fighting. We will not stop. There will be justice,” Gabriel Union shared.
“AHMAUD ARBERY. Sickening what’s STILL happening out here. Don’t watch the video. Respect this man and his family. Remember the name. #justiceforahmaud,” Stephen Curry wrote.
“If you’re on social media, chances are you’ve seen this story. It is absolutely heartbreaking. This young man was jogging and was hunted down and killed for no reason other than the color of his skin. His name is Ahmaud Arbery. I join everyone calling for #JusticeforAhmaud, and I’m sending all my love to his family. #irunwithmaud,” Ellen DeGeneres expressed.
“Ahmaud Arbery. We know your name. May you rest in peace and know that we are fighting for you. You deserved better than this. You were taken from the world almost 3 months ago and still no charges filed or arrests made. To Ahmaud’s mother: there are no words to explain how sorry I am for your loss. And that we still live in a world where this kind of disgusting, brutal violence and disrespect of life is still a reality. We demand justice for Ahmaud because we deserve justice. Perhaps you know his name by now, or perhaps you don’t. But please pay attention everyone. This is what’s happening in our country. This is what’s STILL happening in our country. And not only in Georgia. It’s happening everywhere,” Tracie Ellis Ross wrote.
Justin Bieber shared that he was “Praying for the family mourning the loss of Ahmaud Arbery. Also praying for justice!”
Ahmaud would have been 26 on Friday (May 8). Olivia Wilde said that she would be running to honor him. “Tomorrow would have been #AhmaudArbery’s 26th birthday. Run with me to honor him and raise awareness about racism and injustice in this country. #IrunwithMaud,” the actress tweeted on Thursday.
Per CBS News, the two men accused of killing Ahmaud is a retired police officer and his son. In the police report, one of the shooters told the police that they thought Ahmaud matched the description of a burglary suspect, and claimed that Ahmaud “began to violently attack” after his son got out of their vehicle holding a shotgun.
Ahmaud’s family and supporters have been calling for justice for his death for months. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced on Thursday (May 7) that both men have been taken into custody and charged with murder and aggravated assault.
