Warnock: ‘True justice’ is a Black man not having to worry about being killed while jogging

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) reacted to the verdict in the trial over the murder of Ahmaud Arbery on Twitter Wednesday, saying that although he agrees with the outcome, it does not represent “true justice.”

“This verdict upholds a sense of accountability, but not true justice,” Warnock said in a tweet. “True justice looks like a Black man not having to worry about being harmed — or killed — while on a jog, while sleeping in his bed, while living what should be a very long life.” 

“I’m grateful to the jury for their service and for a verdict that says Ahmaud Arbery’s life mattered,” the senator continued in a second tweet. “He was a son, a nephew, a child of God, and he did not deserve to die in this way.”

This verdict upholds a sense of accountability, but not true justice.

True justice looks like a Black man not having to worry about being harmed—or killed—while on a jog, while sleeping in his bed, while living what should be a very long life.

Ahmaud should be with us today.

— Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) November 24, 2021

Warnock’s comments come after the Georgia jury found Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan guilty of multiple counts of murder. 

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, also reacted to the verdict, saying in a statement that “justice has been served.” 

“This story — although devastating — is not new; we’ve seen this play out repeatedly. Vigilantes acting with racial animus take the lives of Black men and boys, and claim self-defense when confronted with the consequences of their action,” she said. “Justice has been served. However, there is still much to work to be done.”