By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Fashion and Sports Desk)
Celebrities like Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Meek Mill, and others at Roc Nation have written an open letter to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to demand justice over the death of Ahmaud Arbery.
Many artists have also publicly spoken out and demanded justice while asking for a speedy trial and conviction of Arbery’s killers. Jay Z along with several others including Yo Gotti have signed an open letter which is to be released this weekend.
The letter has been addressed to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Georgia AG Christopher Darr, and District Attorney Tom Durden.
They want the two killers Gregory and Travis McMichael to be treated fairly but swiftly so that they can be charged with felony convictions.
They also want another man arrested and charged as an accomplice to the crime.
“By now, we’ve all seen the crime’s disturbing video, so the facts here are not in doubt: He was unarmed and innocent and the victim of a hate crime.
“Which is why we call upon you today, as official leaders of the Great State of Georgia, and with the entire world watching, to ensure that a fair trial is conducted, as that can only lead to the appropriate felony convictions of both McMichaels. We also implore you to charge William Bryan as an armed accomplice to the crime,” the letter states.
According to reports, Bryan had been the person who had filmed the video showing Ahmaud Arbery, 25, getting shot by the McMichaels.
Arbery was shot dead on February 23 when he was running through a neighborhood near Brunswick in Georgia.
Those who knew Arbery have described him as a “very good young man.”
According to a police report, Gregory McMichael, 64, had said that he thought that Arbery looked like a suspect in a series of recent break-ins.
He then proceeded to grab a handgun while his son, Travis, 34, grabbed a shotgun.
They then chased Arbery and after catching up with him, Travis exited their truck with the gun. A small scuffle took place between the two and Gregory shot Arbery. The entire incident was captured on video footage which is around 36 seconds long.
Mr Arbery, 25, was jogging in February when he was confronted by the pair.
He was out running in the coastal city of Brunswick early in the afternoon of 23 February.
Mr McMichael and his son armed themselves with a pistol and a shotgun and pursued Mr Arbery in a pick-up truck.
Gregory McMichael told police he and his son said “stop, stop, we want to talk to you” and claims Mr Arbery then attacked his son.
Video footage of the incident appears to show Travis McMichael firing a shotgun at point blank range at Mr Arbery and the victim falling to the street, in the Satilla Shores neighbourhood.
