The Lynching of Ahmaud Arbery

As a co-founder of the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) and as an African American man, I am heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the details that have emerged during this past week about the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and the gross negligence of Georgia’s criminal justice system in pursuing justice.

The killing of Mr. Arbery by two white men in Satilla Shores, Georgia can not be described as anything less than a modern day lynching. Both the act itself, and the way in which local law enforcement sought to cover up the incident reflect a long and sad history in the United States wherein violence perpetrated on black Americans by white Americans is not often met with consequence.

This speaks to the institutionally engrained state of racism in the United States, and the cultural acceptance of bigotry against black and brown populations for centuries in our nation. Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers walked free for months after his killing, with the knowledge that these institutions would protect them. Their arrests are only a results of the outrage when the general public saw the video of the lynching. It is now a test of the American and especially Georgian justice system on how to pursue murder convictions against the killers.

The legacy of prejudice, bigotry, and violence against people of color in the United States is often acknowledged, but rarely engaged with at depth by lawmakers and decisionmakers. This legacy is pervasive, and violent acts against people of color in the U.S. have been proven to be on the rise.

In addition to such acts of violence, we must address how bigotry and prejudice additionally burdens people of color through countless microaggressions in daily life. As an African American Muslim man in the U.S. I am constantly aware of how others perceive my presence in a space: I alter my behavior, my movements, and even my wardrobe to lessen the chances of being perceived as a threat based on the color of my skin. This experience is not unique to me, and these fears weigh heavily on millions in this country every day.

To be frank, the responses of local officials, coupled with the deeply rooted legacy of institutional racism in justice systems in the U.S. and in Georgia have provided me with zero confidence that the individuals responsible for murdering Ahmaud Arbery will be held properly accountable.

On behalf of my community, and the African American Muslims as a part of the Muslim American Leadership Alliance, an organization that I proudly represent, I demand that these individuals be brought to justice, and I implore legislators at the state and federal level to take swift action to prevent the lynching and murder of black Americans and people of color.

It is time for American society to come face to face with our demons and to address the outstanding legacy of prejudice and violence against communities of color in this nation. We need dialogue, but more importantly, we need action from our lawmakers, decisionmakers, and those responsible for upholding the law. Most importantly, we black Americans need a seat at the table.

We need to work together to equip all Americans, particularly younger generations, with the knowledge and the critical thinking skills to understand the institutional history of racism in this country. We need to listen to and learn from the experiences and insights of communities of color. Anything short of this is superficial and signals complacency, and, ultimately, a resolve to continue the status quo.

MALA (Muslim American Leadership Alliance) represents a diverse community: we come from different nations, different generations, different ethnicities, different orientations, and political views. While our perspectives and opinions often differ, we stand together today in saying that we will not be complacent.

We will not participate in the perpetuation of the legacy of institutionalized racism in the United States, nor will we tolerate members of those institutions of power who wish to do so. Today, I invite all Americans to join us in this stand. I invite all Americans to join this conversation and demand action.