Attorneys are seeking the dismissal of hate crime convictions for three White men who were involved in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was chased and shot by the men in a Georgia subdivision. The lawyers argue that evidence of past racist remarks made by the men did not demonstrate a racist intent. The incident, which occurred in February 2020, involved Greg and Travis McMichael chasing Arbery with guns while another man, William “Roddie” Bryan, joined in recording the shooting. The video of the incident led to arrests and subsequent convictions in both state and federal courts.
In their appeals, the lawyers for Greg McMichael and Bryan cited social media posts and witness testimony that revealed racist comments made by the men, including the use of derogatory terms and calls for violence against Black individuals. However, they argued that the evidence did not prove Arbery was targeted because of his race, but rather due to the suspicion that he was a fleeing criminal. The men claimed they believed Arbery was involved in prior petty crimes, although video evidence did not show him stealing, and he was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors contended that the defendants’ assumptions about Arbery were fueled by deep-seated prejudices against Black people. They argued that the men’s actions were based on unfounded assumptions rather than concrete evidence, leading to a tragic loss of life. Travis McMichael’s attorney acknowledged that his client’s actions were motivated by racism but focused on legal technicalities in their appeal, questioning the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred and disputing the charge of attempted kidnapping.
The defense attorneys also argued against the attempted kidnapping convictions, claiming that their clients did not intend to hold Arbery for ransom or any benefit and that the use of vehicles to block his escape did not constitute an act of interstate commerce. Prosecutors countered that the men’s pursuit of Arbery using trucks met the criteria for attempted kidnapping, as any automobile used in such a manner qualifies as an instrument of interstate commerce. The judge sentenced all three men to life in prison for hate crime convictions along with additional time for other related charges.
Despite the appeals process, the men remain incarcerated in state prison for their murder convictions, and any overturning of their federal convictions would not affect their existing sentences. The case has generated national attention and sparked a renewed conversation about hate crimes and racial inequalities in the justice system. The outcome of the appeals court hearing will have significant implications for the future of the case and could potentially impact how hate crimes are prosecuted and punished in similar incidents in the future.
