On Friday the mother, father, and sister of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year old Black man brutally murdered by three white men after he was observed jogging through their Georgia neighborhood, each provided a victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing of the convicted killers. Such statements are commonly offered at the post-conviction, sentencing stage in murder prosecutions, to emphasize the real-life consequences to the survivors of the victim.

The Arbery family’s statements about their loss and grief are singular—each in their own way—because each of them highlight a specific, separate aspect that’s common to the racism that unquestionably motivated their son’s murder. What the statements reveal—perhaps without even intending to do so—is that racism is usually an agglomeration of multiple prejudices and biases, merged into one. In the case of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder, we saw all of them at work, and so did his family. 

Marcus Arbery, Ahmaud’s father, spoke first at the hearing that would determine the fate of his son’s killers.

Marcus Arbery put his finger on one of the elements of racism animating people like the McMichaels: His son running “alive” and “free” was an affront to them, in and of itself. Ahmaud Arbery had the temerity to demonstrate his freedom to them, and this was more than they, as proud white people, were prepared to tolerate. Marcus Arbery also pointedly noted something neither the McMichaels nor their attorney probably even considered; throughout the trial the McMichaels had sat together as father and son, while he, on the other hand, would never again have an opportunity to do that.

Watch Ahmaud Arbery’s father’s statement below.

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Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, spoke next. In expressing her grief and the toll her son’s death has taken on her own life, her statement was singular in emphasizing that it was her son’s skin color alone that prompted his murderers to feel they could justifiably end his existence without fear of repercussions, something they certainly wouldn’t feel about a white person jogging through their neighborhood.

From Ms. Cooper-Jones’ statement, as reported by The Hill:

Watch Cooper-Jones’ complete statement below.

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Arbery’s sister, Jasmine, was no less pointed in emphasizing that her brother was targeted by his murderers solely because of his skin color and features. As reported by CNN, her statement was poignant and unsparing.

The physical distinctions she deliberately lists here—his hair, nose, and build—all echo the tropes white Americans have historically used to describe Black Americans when seeking to set them apart from whites. Her point that all of these characteristics are shared by the same people she loves, and even herself, speaks to the inability of many whites to look beyond differences in appearances and see Black people as equals, entitled to as much respect and consideration as they would afford their white neighbors.

Watch Jasmine Arbery’s statement below.

YouTube Video

In issuing the sentences, Judge Walmsley carefully noted he was not considering the notoriety of the case in making his decision. He also emphasized the time that Arbery actually spent running in terror from his attackers by pausing the court proceedings for a full minute, explaining that this only represented a fraction of the (at least ) five minutes in which Arbery was pursued.

It is clear that video evidence played a large part in the court’s decision, as Judge Walmsley specifically noted Cooper-Jones’ statement, echoing her sentiment that having failed to scare and intimidate her son, the McMichaels instead elected to kill him. After all (as noted by Ahmaud’s father), Ahmaud was Black, running free and alive. and not acquiescing to their demands. And to the McMichaels and Bryan, that was, well, just intolerable.

After hearing the statements of Arbery’s family members, the judge handed down his sentence, declining to provide either Travis or Gregory McMichael the possibility of parole, as well as an additional 20 years added to both sentences, to be served consecutively. Bryan was sentenced to life, but with the possibility of parole, plus an additional 10 consecutive years, though the latter sentence is suspended. The judge acknowledged that his decision to allow that degree of leniency was based upon bodycam footage that indicated Bryan had reservations and concerns about what had occurred.

But we know exactly what occurred, and why. Ahmaud Arbery’s family knows exactly what occurred, and why. And Ahmaud himself knew, in every one of his final moments, even as it was happening.