On February 23, 2020, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery went for a jog in the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick.

He never returned home.

Ahmaud was unarmed. He was not committing a crime. He was running — something he loved to do. Yet he was chased by three white men in pickup trucks: Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan.

They pursued him through the neighborhood, cornered him, and during a confrontation in the street, Travis McMichael shot him with a shotgun.

What should have been an ordinary jog became a killing that would shake the nation.

The 74 Days of Silence

For 74 days, no arrests were made.

It was not until cellphone video of the shooting surfaced publicly that outrage spread nationwide. The footage forced renewed scrutiny, investigation, and ultimately arrests.

The delay intensified concerns about accountability and equal justice under the law. For Ahmaud’s family, those weeks were filled not only with grief — but with uncertainty and frustration.

Convictions and Federal Hate Crime Rulings

In 2021, a Georgia state court convicted all three men of murder:

• Gregory McMichael — life without parole

• Travis McMichael — life without parole

• William Bryan — life with the possibility of parole after 30 years

In 2022, a federal jury found them guilty of hate crimes and attempted kidnapping, determining that Ahmaud was targeted because he was Black. Additional life sentences were imposed.

In 2025, a federal appeals court upheld those hate crime convictions, reinforcing the finding that racial bias played a central role in the killing.

Justice came — but only after national pressure and sustained advocacy.

Legal Changes Sparked by His Death

Ahmaud’s death led to significant changes in Georgia law:

• 2020: Georgia passed a state hate crimes law, addressing a long-standing gap in its criminal statutes.

• 2021: The state repealed and replaced its Civil War–era citizen’s arrest law, limiting the circumstances under which private citizens can detain someone.

These reforms were directly influenced by the case and the public demand for accountability.

His Legacy Lives On

Ahmaud’s family established the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation to promote social justice initiatives and community programs. Each year, a memorial run is held in Brunswick, honoring his love of running and reclaiming the simple freedom he was denied.

February 23 has been recognized in Georgia as Ahmaud Arbery Day — a day of remembrance and reflection.

But remembrance is more than a date.

It is recognizing that Ahmaud was:

• A son

• A friend

• A young man with dreams

• Someone who loved fitness, sunshine, and the rhythm of the road beneath his feet

He deserved to finish his run.
He deserved to grow older.
He deserved safety in his own neighborhood.

More Than a Headline

Ahmaud Arbery’s name became part of a national reckoning about racial injustice, vigilantism, and accountability. His case joined broader conversations about systemic inequality and the value of Black lives in America.

Yet at its core, this story is not about politics.

It is about a human life.

When we say his name, it is not just an act of remembrance — it is an acknowledgment of dignity.

Ahmaud Arbery.

Gone, but not forgotten.

His legacy is carried forward by those who continue to run in his honor, advocate for justice, and work toward a world where no one is hunted for simply existing.

Say his name.
Remember his life.
And remember that justice must never depend on how loudly people are forced to demand it.