Dear colleagues,

On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed near Brunswick, Georgia by a group of men who spotted him running through their subdivision and pursued him in a pickup truck. Gregory McMichael, his son Travis, and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, were arrested in May of last year. They were each charged with felony murder and malice murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. Today, after two days of deliberation, the jury found all three defendants guilty of murder and other crimes.

The circumstances of this case have understandably caused widespread attention and prompted significant reactions, including demonstrations for racial justice. The three defendants are still facing federal hate-crime charges and will go to trial in February.

Today’s verdict is only a small step toward accountability and justice. It doesn’t bring Ahmaud Arbery back to his family, but it will hopefully continue to push us to do the work of anti-racism and transformative justice. The verdict comes at a time when many members of our community are still grappling with the not-guilty verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case. As you process this news, I encourage everyone to take care of yourselves and others and build intentional spaces to be in community.

Resources

• Recommendations for Supporting Students
• Boe House Counseling Center
• Staff and Faculty Mental Health Support
• Mental Health Crisis Resources
• TimelyCare. Students can access mental health care through a “Talk Now” appointment 24/7 for emotional support and you can also set up a “Scheduled Counseling” appointment.
• Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion
• College Ministry
• Racism and Mental Health Resources – The Wellness Center
• Spend time in the Green House or the Natural Lands

In solidarity,

—
Sincerely,
María