LeBron James led a line of celebrities speaking out about the shooting of an unarmed black jogger by two white men less than three months ago – and the lack of consequences against the men involved in the shooting.
In the incident, Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was fatally shot by Travis McMichael as he jogged in Brunswick, Georgia February 23; McMichael’s father Gregory also chased Arbery in the incident, according to police.
The men told authorities that the shooting came amid an attempt to make a citizen’s arrest of Arbery, adding that Arbery matched a description of an active burglar in the region, police said.
Demanding justice: LeBron James led a line of celebrities who were speaking out about the shooting of an unarmed black jogger by two white men less than three months ago, and the lack of legal action against the shooters in the face of jarring video evidence
No one has been arrested in the incident, which infuriated the NBA stalwart, who said, ‘We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes!.
‘Can’t even go for a damn jog man!’ the 35-year-old Los Angeles Laker said. ‘Like WTF man are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!? No man fr ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!’
The Akron, Ohio native continued: ‘I’m sorry Ahmaud(Rest In Paradise) and my prayers and blessings sent to the….. heavens above to your family!!’
The iconic basketball player added the hashtags #StayWoke and #ProfiledCauseWeAreSimplyBlack after a jarring video of the incident made its way online this week, leading many on social media to call for immediate action in the case.
Upset: No one has been arrested in the incident, which infuriated the NBA stalwart, who said, ‘We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes’
The case continued to gain traction Wednesday as a number of other notable names took to social media to share their thoughts of sadness, anger and vengeance in the ongoing case.
‘If you are in Georgia and are comfortable going outside with social distancing protocols, please safely support this family whose loved one was murdered in cold blood while jogging by gun-toting Trump supporting White supremacists,’ director/writer Ava DuVernay said on Twitter.
Gabrielle Union made her thoughts on the situation crystal clear amid her calls for justice
‘It’s been months and his killers walk free,’ the actress said in an Instagram post. ‘I don’t want to beg, plead, reason, cry, or scream for you to see us as worthy of our breath. If you need to be cajoled into empathy, you are not who you think you are.’
Focused: Gabrielle Union made her thoughts on the situation crystal clear amid her calls for justice
Outrage: Rosanna Arquette also expressed their disgust over the situation, calling it a ‘racist’ and ‘heinous’ crime
The L.A.’s Finest star ended her post in saying, ‘We keep fighting. We will not stop. There will be justice.’
Zoe Kravitz said the incident was reflective of an unjust system.
She wrote: #ahmaudarbery was murdered by two white men, ON CAMERA, and dudes have not been arrested. come on, people…come. the F*** on.’
Rosanna Arquette suggested the McMichaels be charged with murder for their ‘despicable racist heinous crime.’
Maria Shriver called the story ‘absolutely outrageous,’ adding, ‘Watching this video should outrage and disgust us all.’
Time to answer: Academy Award winner Halle Berry, comedy star Amy Schumer and A-lister Kerry Washington called for justice in the situation
Focused: Pop star Justin Bieber said he was ‘praying for justice’ in the case
Upset: Kendall Jenner indicated she was heartbroken by the turn of events
Actress Viola Davis quoted late activist Fannie Lou Hamer in writing, ‘I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.’
Pop superstar Justin Bieber wrote, ‘Praying for the family mourning the loss of Ahmaud Arbery. Also praying for justice!’
Serena Williams, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Taraji P. Henson, Tristan Thompson, Olivia Wilde, Tina Lawson, Lily Collins, Vanessa Hudgens and Sailor Brinkley Cook also paid memorial to the late Arbery, with some demanding a day in court for the men involved in the shooting.
Passionate: Tennis icon Serena Williams had a bold response to the story involving Arbery
Powerful: Oscar-winner Viola Davis called for action from officials in the situation
Arbery’s mother Wanda Cooper Jones told reporters that her late son ‘was just out for his daily jog’ in the incident, which the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also probing.
‘I saw my son come into the world,’ she said, according to the AP, ‘and seeing him leave the world, it’s not something that I’ll want to see ever.’
The case is expected to continue for at least another month, as courts in Georgia are closed due to COVID-19 shutdown.
Calls for action: Khloe’s ex, NBA star Tristan Thompson, said that justice ‘NEEDS’ to be served in the ongoing case
Crestfallen: Khloe Kardashian posted an emoji depicting her heartbreak over the tragic death
Upset: Vanessa Hudgens linked to a Change.org petition demanding justice in the case
When the courts reconvene, a prosecutor appointed to the incident says he hopes a grand jury can come to the determination whether or not either McMichael is charged in the deadly incident.
Jones’s’ lawyer Lee Merritt said Travis McMichael and his father Gregory ‘were vigilantes … and they performed a modern lynching in the middle of the day.’
In his latest statement on the case, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp said that proper ‘resources & manpower’ have been allocated to local authorities ‘to ensure a thorough, independent investigation into the death.’
Kemp said that ‘Georgians deserve answers,’ and that ‘state law enforcement stands ready to ensure justice is served.’
One-time presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke tweeted, ‘I would ask why the killers are not already in jail, two months later, but we know why. Still, there is a chance for justice to be done. There must be accountability and there must be consequences for murder of Ahmaud Arbery.’
Response: Actress Lily Collins called the situation ‘tragic and unacceptable’
Growing group: Sailor Brinkley Cook and Naomi Campbell also shared their thoughts on the deadly incident
Statement: Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp said that proper ‘resources & manpower’ have been allocated to local authorities ‘to ensure a thorough, independent investigation into the death’
Blunt: Senator Bernie Sanders kept it simple in his assessment of what happened, and what should occur next