LeBron James, Justin Bieber & More Speak Out Over Ahmaud Arbery's Murder

By Lauren Crawford

May 7, 2020

Celebrities, political figures, and the general public are calling for justice in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed black man who was gunned down by two white men while out for a jog earlier this year.

While the murder occurred on February 23, news of the case went viral earlier this week after a graphic video surfaced showing Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael pursuing Ahmaud — who was running on the rural road in the Satilla Shores neighborhood just outside Brunswick, Georgia — and ultimately shooting him.

Travis reportedly fired the shots that killed Ahmaud as his father, who is a former police officer and former investigator with the local D.A.'s office, stood in the bed of his pickup truck holding a gun.

The McMichaels, who have yet to be arrested or charged with the fatal shooting, told authorities they followed Ahmaud because they believed he fit the description of a burglary suspect for a number of local break-ins.

Authorities previously determined the father and son acted under the state's citizen arrest and self-defense law. However, after two prosecutors recused themselves from the case due to their ties to Gregory, a third prosecutor said on Tuesday (May 5) that the case should be heard by a grand jury.

The release of the murder video, along with the fact that the McMichaels have yet to be arrested, sparked international outrage this week, with celebrities from around the world demanding justice for what some have deemed a modern-day lynching.

"We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes! Can’t even go for a damn jog man," LeBron James wrote on Instagram Wednesday (May 6). "Like WTF man are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!? No man fr ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! I’m sorry Ahmaud(Rest In Paradise) and my prayers and blessings sent to the heavens above to your family!!🙏🏾✊🏾❤️ #StayWoke #ProfiledCauseWeAreSimplyBlack😢😢 ."

Kim Kardashian additionally called for justice, pointing her Twitter followers to a petition "so that charges will be filed and justice for Ahmaud Arbery's family can be served #JusticeForAhmaudArbery."

Check out more celebrities' posts below.

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#JusticeForAhmaud

A post shared by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington) on

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In our country, the human on the left has a different reality than the human on the right. This in inarguable. Its not because the one on the right, my son, has more value than Ahmaud Arbery. He does not. Its because in our country, we have let power structures exist that make your race or color a factor in whether you get to live or die, get justice or nothing even close to that. Its evil. Its tired. Its inexcusable. Its shameful that a black man can get MURDERED while jogging at the hands of white men with weapons and without forceful protest and objection, not be held immediately accountable. That may happen now, but it should not have to happen at all. May righteous indignation be our focus. May peace on earth, be our portion. I will fight the temptation to be discouraged and i will cling to the hope that together, we will see change in our country. #occupyallstreets

A post shared by Carl Lentz (@carllentz) on

Photo: Getty Images

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