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.
Gregory McMichael & his son Travis McMichael gunned down Ahmaud Arbery, 25, on his daily jog in Brunswick, GA. His mother Wanda Jones said “He was hunted down like an animal and killed.” Call the Glynn County Police Dept & demand their arrest: (912)-554-7800 #JusticeForAhmaud pic.twitter.com/WhtklDySTu
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) May 6, 2020
This is Ahmaud Arbery.
— andy lassner (@andylassner) May 6, 2020
He was 25-years-old.
He went jogging.
A white man and his son, hunted him down and murdered him.
Once again for those in the back, 25-years-old and exercising when two white men hunted him down like an animal and murdered him. https://t.co/TodYoXEJOP
Take Action 🙏🏿 #AhmaudArbery pic.twitter.com/6tbeAQh6GE
— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) May 6, 2020
#AhmaudArbery should still be alive right now. This is tragic and unacceptable. It should ignite us all in demands for justice.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 6, 2020
I'm calling on the Department of Justice to investigate. We need justice for Ahmaud and his family. https://t.co/l4Pih9xbmR
As more attention focuses on the troubling killing of #AhmaudArbery, our systems of law enforcement and justice must be held to the highest standards: full investigation, appropriate charges and an unbiased prosecution. https://t.co/5mYI4vA8A6
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) May 5, 2020
#ahmaudarbery pic.twitter.com/DbVfKKJuQG
— Jermaine Dupri (@jermainedupri) May 7, 2020
With all that’s going on with COVID-19, we still can’t forget and just sit around when lives are being taken for no reason. Let’s commit action to what Justice is supposed to be in America and the world. God Bless. #JusticeForAhmaud pic.twitter.com/N2wUYOYawa
— COMMON (@common) May 7, 2020
If you’re not outraged, you should be. Justice for #AhmaudArbery. pic.twitter.com/VyYaVK4NQY
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) May 7, 2020
The Killing of Ahmaud Arbery - The New York Times #JusticeForAhmaud https://t.co/H8hgCntjNv
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) May 7, 2020
Please sign this petition so that charges will be filed and justice for Ahmaud Arbery's family can be served #JusticeForAhmaudArbery https://t.co/NvbsyFK4QT pic.twitter.com/RP7lqj8ZL1
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 7, 2020
Crushed 💔 #AhmadArbery. Praying for Justice. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/rFcrxyQJoY
— Ciara (@ciara) May 7, 2020
So sad & ridiculous!! We need justice for this man!! When will it end ⁉️#TakeAction pic.twitter.com/GHwGnK0OdQ
— LeToya Luckett-Walker (@LeToyaLuckett) May 7, 2020
Text 55156 to be sent the petition so you can help bring #JusticeForAhmaudArbery 💔 pic.twitter.com/Q2RSSiT5aQ
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) May 7, 2020
SIGN THIS NOW. https://t.co/mECKCRTF72
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) May 7, 2020
Go to: https://t.co/wZf3znNftT sign the petition and let’s get justice for #AhmaudArbery 💔 https://t.co/pO6dAevRZv
— King Push (@PUSHA_T) May 7, 2020
RIP AHMAUD ARBERY
— RUSS (@russdiemon) May 7, 2020
White people, Georgia, America, the WORLD has to do better. Shit is disgusting. RIP
Look at this beautiful soul who was chased down and murdered while jogging at 25 years old for nothing more than being black in America in 2020. If we don't look directly at this and own up to these horrifying sins of ours, we will never ever heal. Rest Easy #AhmaudArbery pic.twitter.com/bgNVNma9HP
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) May 7, 2020
Photo: Getty Images