Greater Portland NOW

National Organization for Women

Advocating for Women & Girls

Donate Join NOW

  • About
  • Issues
    • NOW Priority Issues
  • Get Involved
    • Join
    • Donate
  • News
  • Events
  • Endorsements
    • 2018 Endorsements
    • 2017 Endorsements
    • 2016 Endorsements

June 3, 2020 by NOW National

Ahmaud Arbery’s Murder Was Also A Hate Crime

Released on June 3, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Organization for Women has signed on to a letter calling on the Department of Justice to open a full and thorough hate crime investigation into the horrific killing of Ahmaud Arbery, who was chased down and shot to death by armed vigilantes while peacefully jogging in a suburban Georgia neighborhood. 

Like the murder-by-police of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery was targeted for being Black and victimized by a culture that gives permission to racial violence, especially when committed by individuals with a law enforcement background.  But unlike Minnesota, where Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has a consistent record in opposing police violence, is leading the investigation, Cobb County  District Attorney Joyette Holmes, the fourth prosecutor to be assigned to this case, identifies herself as a “proud conservative” and has political ties to Georgia’s controversial Republican governor, Brian Kemp. 

That’s why NOW has joined the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ and the Hate Crime Coalition’s call for a thorough investigation into the local district attorneys, as well as the Glynn County Police Department for their pattern of systemic constitutional abuses.   

There are too many families of the victims of police violence crying out for justice today.  Along with George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, there is also David McAtee and Breonna Taylor, both shot by police in Louisville in incidents that sparked national outrage.  All these families must see a full accounting for the legal system’s inherent racism, neglect, and contempt for communities of color. 

NOW stands with Black Lives Matter and other groups demanding racial justice, systemic change, and immediate reform and accountability.  

Justice delayed is justice denied.  Change must come now—it’s long overdue.  Hate must be driven out of our criminal justice system, and it must never come back. 

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,

About NOW National

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Get Greater Portland NOW Updates

Sign up here to receive updates from Greater Portland NOW!

Subscribe

Take Action

Attend an Event

Become a Greater Portland NOW Member

Learn More

Oregon NOW

Greater Portland NOW is the state chapter of the National Organization for Women. We work on behalf of NOW members in the Greater Portland area to achieve equality for all women and girls and to amplify the work of justice-seeking organizations.

Learn more about us.

Contact

Mailing Address
Greater Portland NOW
PO Box 951
Clackamas, OR 97015

E-Mail
greaterportlandnow@gmail.com

Social

  • Facebook

Handcrafted with by Mapped Digital. NOW Chapter Websites Reinvented.