When it takes two months for two white men to be arrested for the shooting and killing a black man out for a jog, it seems clear to most people that we have a racism problem in America. But not everyone agrees that the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, or many other similar acts of violence, are racially motivated. In fact, some groups have taken to the internet to spread a message of support for the men charged with killing Ahmaud: Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael, the father and son who are seen in a video following him in their truck, then apparently attacking and shooting him three times.
A white former pastor named Richard Demsick is trying to prove that the attacks couldn't have been anything but racially motivated. So he went out for a jog, attempting to look as suspicious as humanly possible. He took off his shirt, put his hat on backward, and even ran with a TV under his arm. The McMichaels told police they believed Arbery was a burglar, so the pastor tried to look like one.
More from LittleThings: Wife With Implants Left With 1 Breast After Catching Husband's Throat Infection In Nipple
Richard, 34, wasn't worried about his safety, though. He knew the color of his skin would be enough to keep him safe, which was exactly the point he was trying to make.
Richard Demsick ran through the streets of a suburban neighborhood. The former pastor filmed himself while he ran so that he could document what happened. But not much happened on his run. It was uneventful, as anticipated, which proved his point that white men aren't targeted in the same way that black men are — even though he did his best to look extremely suspicious.
As part of the #IRunWithMaud movement, a virtual protest in honor of what would have been Ahmaud's 26th birthday, Richard posted the video on TikTok. It has since gained over a million views. Thousands participated in the social media movement, even big-name celebrities like Oprah.
It was moving to see so many people express their support for Ahmaud's family in the wake of his tragic murder. But this video really went above and beyond. It's so impactful because not only did Richard run 2.23 miles (while carrying a TV, at that), he did it to try to prove an extremely necessary point: that racism is alive and well, and it has taken the lives of black men.
"All right, I’ve figured it out,” he says in the video. “I got my hat on backwards, I’m shirtless, like I’m on some episode of ‘Cops,’ I’m running with a TV, someone’s going to stop me now for sure, ’cause, if not, what was the problem with Ahmaud?”
Clearly, we know what the problem was. It was that Ahmaud was a black man who had the misfortune of encountering two racist men.
As suspicious as Richard attempted to look, no one bothered him. No one even asked what he was up to. While no social experiment is perfect, the difference between the two situations is just stunning. But it's also the harsh reality of what black men in this country deal with every day — and we need to examine it.
Meanwhile, Ahmaud's autopsy, which was performed on February 24 by the Glynn County Coroner, has been released. The report shows that he was shot three times and "died of multiple shotgun wounds sustained during a struggle for the shotgun."
The report also revealed that Ahmaud had sustained two close-range gunshot wounds in the chest, as well as a graze wound on his right wrist.
Ahmaud's alleged killers, Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael, are behind bars. The father and son are reportedly not confined with the general population due to safety risks. While it took over two months for the two to be arrested, they are expected to remain behind bars until their grand jury trial. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also looking into the involvement of a third man, William Bryan. He is the man who recorded the video, which many viewed as possible participation in the crime.
The McMichaels have claimed that they were simply trying to protect their neighborhood. They told police they believed Ahmaud to be responsible for recent break-ins and said he looked like the suspect. While the claim doesn't justify the killing of an unarmed black man, it has still been enough to earn the support of certain church groups who are backing the alleged killers.
After the men were arrested, the group Christians Against Google changed its Facebook page name to "Justice for Gregory and Travis Michael (sic)." The group also updated the "about" section to clarify its mission.
It reads: “These 2 God-fearing men were only trying to protect their neighborhood. This area has had a string of break-ins and this man fit the description and did not comply with simple commands. Our hearts go out to the McMichael family in their time of need. Amen.”
Still, most who are following the case are hoping Ahmaud's family gets justice. After all, it was the public outcry that caused the arrests to be made in the first place. Ahmaud's mother recently said she hopes the two men get the death penalty.
Surely, more details in the case will emerge as investigations continue.
