(ATLANTA, GA, 5/8/2020) – The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s arrests of Gregory and Travis McMichael for the alleged murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and called for the officials involved in the original investigation of the shooting to resign.
SEE BREAKING NEWS: County Commissioner Claims DA Johnson Blocked Arrest of Suspect McMichaels
The arrests came more than two months after Arbery’s killing on February 23, and the recusals of two prosecutors for conflicts of interest. Despite the arrest of the McMichaels, civil rights activists continue to express concerns about the investigation due to Gregory McMichael’s local law enforcement connections and the history of non-convictions in cases of unjustified violence against African-Americans.
Yesterday, CAIR-Georgia joined a nationwide call for the immediate arrest of the two men.
SEE: CAIR-Georgia Joins Call for Immediate Arrest of Suspects in ‘Modern-Day Lynching’ of Ahmaud Arbery
In a statement, CAIR-Georgia Executive Director Abdullah Jaber said:
“Justice delayed is justice denied. Although we welcome the latest steps to obtain justice for the family of Ahmaud Arbery, we must hold the prosecutors who refused to take action on this case for over two months accountable.
“Nothing about the evidence has changed since Feb. 23rd. Despite clear evidence of a crime, multiple district attorneys failed to bring the alleged murderers to justice for almost three months. All of this is indicative of a system in which racism and domestic terrorism are tolerated when minorities and people of color are its victims.
“We join national and local leaders in seeking the immediate resignations of George Barnhill, district attorney of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, Jackie Johnson, district attorney of Brunswick Judicial Circuit, and John Powell, the Glynn County police chief at the time of the shooting, due to their utter negligence.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
CONTACT: CAIR-Georgia Executive Director Abdullah Jaber, 404-464-6612, [email protected]