Thoughts on Ahmaud Arbery

DeKalb Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, District 4, shared his perspective in newsletter

I think that most of us were shocked and saddened when we learned about the tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County. The video is heartbreaking. On February 23, 2020, Mr. Arbery was essentially ambushed and killed while he was out running. On that date he was 25 years old.

This incident has affected me deeply. And I have been thinking back to when I was 25 years old.

When I was 25 years old, I was an officer in the United States Army, and running was a big part of my life. Almost daily we did physical training or PT, and running was a big part of that.

And when I was on leave visiting family and friends all over this country, wherever I was I would go out running. I ran in urban areas. I ran in rural areas.

And on those occasions, it never occurred to me that I might possibly get ambushed and shot by a couple of guys in a pickup truck. That is inconceivable to me. Or at least it used to be.

Now, at age 57 I do not run nearly as much as I used to or candidly as much as I should. Although, I did run for a little bit this morning. But, this incident has certainly caused me to think and ask myself the following question, is the simple act of running one more of the potential hazards that I have to face as a black man in America? This is a sad thing to contemplate.

At this point, I will not comment on the justice system’s response to this tragedy to date. I am going to let that process play itself out. I just hope and pray that the ultimate outcome provides Mr. Arbery’s loved ones with the sense that justice has been done, and some measure of peace.