Mother of Ahmaud Arbery hosts memorial run nearly six years after his death

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) — The mother of Ahmaud Arbery is marking nearly six years since her son’s killing by hosting a memorial run in Brunswick where his death sparked national outrage and led to changes in state law.

Wanda Cooper-Jones that the annual event celebrates her son’s passion for running and fitness while bringing the community together in remembrance and unity.

Arbery, 25, was shot and killed on Feb. 23, 2020, while running through a neighborhood near Brunswick. Prosecutors said three white men pursued Arbery in pickup trucks before one of them fatally shot him. Video of the encounter, released months later, sparked nationwide protests and renewed calls for racial justice.

A Glynn County jury convicted Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael and neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan of murder. The three men were convicted in federal court of hate crimes. All are serving prison sentences.

Cooper-Jones said that while the convictions brought a measure of justice, the pain of losing her son remains.

“To know Ahmaud was to love Ahmaud,” she said, describing him as an avid runner who worked out nearly every day.

She said the memorial run, now in its fifth year, has become a source of healing. This year marks the first time the event will be held in Brunswick, the city where her son was killed. The run is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Old City Hall, and organizers say the public is welcome.

Cooper-Jones also reflected on the broader impact of her son’s death. In the months after the shooting, Georgia lawmakers repealed the state’s citizen’s arrest law and later passed a hate crimes statute.

“Ahmaud was taken away from me and my family,” she said. “But he brought change in the state of Georgia. He won’t just be remembered as a young man who was killed while jogging, but as someone who made a difference.”

She said she hopes the memorial run will continue to honor her son’s legacy while encouraging unity and continued progress.