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Ahmaud Arbery: Outrage over racial bias as only ONE Black juror was chosen in trial

'How can a city like Brunswick, GA, with a population over 16,000 and a majority black population end up with only 1 black juror & 11 white jurors?' a user commented

GLYNN COUNTY, GEORGIA: The trial for the tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery has landed in controversy yet again after it was found that the jury comprises only one Black member. Arbery, a Black man himself, was jogging in his neighborhood when he was allegedly shot dead by three White men on February 23, 2020. The 25-year-old's death and the video of his shooting sent shockwaves across the country resulting in numerous protests where people came out on the streets demanding justice. The accused in the fatal shooting of Arbery include father-son duo Gregory and Travis McMichael, and their neighbor William 'Roddie' Bryan. 

The jury selection for the much-anticipated Ahmaud Arbery trial took place over a period of weeks. All factors and rules were meticulously followed to eliminate any chance of mistrial. However, now there is an overpouring outrage with the fact that the jury consists of 11 white members and only one Black man. The constitution of the jury has left Arbery's family and supporters extremely disappointed. "The judge noted the appearance of "intentional discrimination" in jury selection but said the trial over Ahmaud Arbery's killing would proceed," a user informed on Twitter.

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At the beginning of the jury selection process, there were 48 potential jurors including 12 Black individuals and 36 white men and women. “In this case we had 48 jurors to select from, 12 of whom were Black and 36 of whom were white. The actual jury that was selected has one African American male on it,” prosecutor Linda Dunikoski noted in court before the judge. 

The biased jury selection was due to the attorneys representing the defendants Greg and Travis McMichael and William Roddie Bryan. Reportedly, the defense attorneys were given 24 strikes to eliminate potential jurors, whereas the state received only 12. The defense attorneys calculatingly abused their power and acted with racial bias to strike out Black jurors from the panel. Meanwhile, the prosecution attorneys used all their 12 strikes on white jurors.

However, the defense attorneys in the Arbery trial are denying the allegations of racial bias. They claimed that their elimination process did not involve intentional racial discrimination, rather they struck out the jurors based on their attitude and responses. They stated that at least three of the eliminated Black jurors had been part of the 'I run with Maud' movement in protest of Ahmaud Arbery killing. Some of the others already had a biased perception towards the accused considering them as guilty even before trial. 

"We have a very clear selection procedure within the defense team and the issue of race is not one of the factors," remarked Greg McMichael's attorney Laura Hogue. She added, “It’s up to us to use our peremptory strikes to say to ourselves, ‘Is that the kind of juror, given those impressions and feelings … Would you want that juror judging you in this case? And the answer is a resounding no.”

Judge Timothy Walmsley sided with the defense in the end though they did not rule out the chances of racial discrimination. "There appears to be potential discrimination in the panel. One of the challenges that I think counsel recognizes, in this case, is the racial overtones in this case," judge Walmsley noted in court. 

"Yes, it’s bad only *one* Black juror was seated in the trial of the accused killers of Ahmaud Arbery. But it’s worse the judge *openly* recognized *intentional discrimination* HAD infected the jury-selection process & did nothing about it. I’m sorry?" a user tweeted. 

Another questioned, "How can a city like Brunswick, GA, with a population over 16,000 and a majority black population end up with only 1 black juror & 11 white jurors? @TheJusticeDept
Something doesn't add up. Investigate! #AhmaudArbery #BLM #JusticeForAhmaudArbery"

"The trial of the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery is a slowly unfolding horror that will make the Rittenhouse trial seem quite pleasant even after a juror was dismissed for telling a racist joke," a third user said, comparing the two most talked-about trials in the country at present.