Supporters of Ahmaud Arbery’s family gather outside courthouse during opening statements

Triana Arnold James is president of Georgia Now and passionate astir being astatine the Glynn County Courthouse during the proceedings of the 3 men accused of chasing and sidesplitting Ahmaud Arbery.

“Raining, snow, sleet, Georgia weather. Everybody should beryllium present connected these courthouse steps and bearing witness,” said James.

On a rainy, chilly Friday successful Brunswick, the Transformation Justice Coalition gathered to amusement their enactment to Arbery’s household connected a important time successful the proceedings — opening statements. Attorney Lee Merritt was besides there.

“We are declaring triumph successful advance,” said Merritt.

Kevin Gough, William “Roddie” Bryan’s attorney, mentioned the radical successful court, asking to person the supporters pushed back.

“This enactment is conscionable excessively adjacent truthful adjacent it’s violative of the defendant’s rights,” said Gough.

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The justice denied it, and they continued with opening statements. The authorities authoritative describing the pursuit said, “Mr. Arbery is nether attack.” The defence said, “Travis McMichael was acting successful self-defense.”

Barbara Arnwine, Transformative Justice Coalition president, said she noticed a alteration successful the ambiance of the courtroom.

“We are hopeful that arsenic this grounds continues to travel retired that the close determination volition beryllium made,” said Arnwine.

In ponchos and nether tents, the president of Georgia Now, a women’s organization, said she thinks statements volition get adjacent much uncomfortable.

“I’m expecting them to overgarment the victim, Ahmaud Arbery, not arsenic a unfortunate but arsenic the agitator,” said James. “I already cognize that they are going to bash that. But arsenic a mom, it’s going to wounded maine to adjacent seeing the videos and proceeding the words they are saying.”

It’s lone time 1 since assemblage selection, but these groups program to beryllium present until there’s a verdict.

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