McBath on Arbery verdict: No decision can ‘heal the wounds of losing a loved one’

Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) offered support to Ahmaud Arbery’s family on the eve of Thanksgiving after a jury on Wednesday convicted all three men on trial for his killing.

“Today, #AhmaudArbery should be celebrating the holidays with his parents, his family, and his loved ones. My heart is with all of you during these challenging times,” McBath tweeted.

“There is no verdict, no decision that can heal the wounds of losing a loved one. The sorrow we feel stays with us. It lives in all the love for our children we never had the chance to express. It lives in all the joy we never got to experience,” she wrote.

McBath added in the thread that she will send her prayers to Arbery’s family and “every mother who has lost a child.” 

There is no verdict, no decision that can heal the wounds of losing a loved one. The sorrow we feel stays with us. It lives in all the love for our children we never had the chance to express. It lives in all the joy we never got to experience.

— Rep. Lucy McBath (@RepLucyMcBath) November 24, 2021

A Georgia jury on Wednesday found Travis McMichael; his father, Gregory Michael; and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan guilty of multiple counts of murder in the killing of Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man.

Arbery was shot dead by Travis McMichael in February 2020 after being pursued by the three men while jogging in the neighborhood of Brunswick, Ga.

Arbery’s death was one of the prominent killings of Black Americans that garnered national media attention in the last two years, leading to protests of racial equality and police reform. 

Earlier this week, McBath also commemorated the nine-year anniversary of her own son, Jordan Davis, being killed. Davis was shot at a gas station in 2012 over an argument about loud music.

“Jordan, I didn’t get to hug or kiss you goodbye. You were only 17 with your whole life ahead of you. My heart is still broken,” McBath said in her post.

Today marks nine years since my son, Jordan, was shot for playing his music. It was Black Friday in 2012.

Jordan, I didn’t get to hug or kiss you goodbye. You were only 17 with your whole life ahead of you. My heart is still broken. pic.twitter.com/3rP1lDz0Vo

— Rep. Lucy McBath (@RepLucyMcBath) November 23, 2021