Local

Georgia artist uses local talent in song to highlight Run with Ahmaud movement

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — As the murder trial for three men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery enters its second week of jury selection, one Georgia artist is reminding the community about the cause they are fighting for.

The case is bringing a lot of unwanted national attention to the coastal Georgia community of Brunswick.

Travis McMichael, his father, Gregory McMichael, and Roddy Bryan are standing trial for the death of Ahmaud Arbery, who was gunned down as he ran through a neighborhood in February 2020.

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Channel 2′s Tony Thomas has been in Glynn County covering the trial since it began last week. He says that locals in the area are on both sides of the case. Some are very vocal about their viewpoint, and others want to lie low and keep to themselves.

Car salesman Alfonso Hart is in the try and stay quiet camp.

“We just try to keep our opinions to ourselves,” he said.

Which Hart admits is a difficult task when the whole town is talking about three local White men on trial for murder in connection to the death of a Black man.

“Brunswick ain’t used to stuff like that,” Hart said.

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On the other side of town, Larry Rogers is making a statement to the world through a music video filled with musicians and singers from Brunswick, all of whom are close to the Run with Ahmaud movement.

“This song is there to unite us as a community. We gotta run, going strong, gotta fight,” Rogers told Thomas.

The Run with Ahmaud movement has worked tirelessly since Arbery’s death in 2020 to get justice for the 25-year-old.

“So let me tell you why I run. I run for justice and peace,” Rogers sings in the song.

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There are two different approaches to the same issue, but everyone agrees they don’t want it to happen again.

“It’s like tearing everyone apart a little bit, but it’s like also bringing the community together. Because you have to stick together so it won’t happen again,” Hart said.

Jury selection will most likely continue into next week. After that, testimony will likely take two to three weeks before a verdict will be reached and the case can come to a close.