2020 – Ahmaud Arbery’s Killers Charged with Murder

On May 15, 2020, after nationwide protests and public outcry, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation officially charged Gregory and Travis McMichael with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed Black man who had been shot while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia. The case had gained viral attention after cellphone footage of the killing was released, exposing how the suspects had remained free for over two months. The May 15 charges marked a turning point in a case that became central to the renewed push for racial justice and police accountability in 2020. Alongside the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, Arbery’s death catalyzed a global movement and calls to confront systemic racism in law enforcement. The arrest symbolized the power of collective outrage, digital activism, and public pressure in demanding accountability when institutions fail.