Several U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday commemorated the one-year anniversary of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot while jogging in Georgia.
Newly sworn-in Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) shared a photo of Arbery on Twitter. Warnock became the first Black U.S. senator from Georgia after defeating former Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
“Rest in peace, Ahmaud. You—and so many other Black men and women taken too soon—should be here today,” Warnock wrote. “Today and every day, we will remember your life and your legacy, and we continue to fight for justice in your name.”
“We should never forget Ahmaud or the continued need to strongly denounce hate & racism in our society,” Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) said. “Today I’m thinking of Ahmaud’s friends and family, and of the impact his legacy will have on our nation.”
“One year ago the world lost another young Black man, a community lost a leader, and a mother lost her son,” Georgia Rep. Lucy McBath (D), whose 17-year old son Jordan Davis died due to gun violence, wrote. “Ahmaud Arbery – Rest in Power. May we honor your legacy by rejecting empty promises and demanding real reforms.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also took to social media to highlight Arbery’s death, writing, “He was killed simply for jogging while Black. Ahmaud should be alive today.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) wrote on Twitter, “It’s the responsibility of us in government to dismantle systemic racism in America, for Ahmaud and for every victim of racist violence.”
Arbery’s death was one of several, including those of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain, that led to nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality last spring and summer.
Arbery was chased down and killed by former Glynn County police officer Gregory McMichael and his son Travis McMichael while jogging in Brunswick, Ga. Both father and son were arrested around three months after Arbery’s death and have since been charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced new legislation last week that would repeal a Civil War-era citizen’s arrest statute in order to help eliminate “any potential legal loopholes that could be used to justify vigilantism.”