The February 23, 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery has angered people around the world. Many have questioned how two men could go unpunished for MONTHS after lynching a Black man in broad daylight, but the answer lies in a powerful role at the center of the criminal justice system.
It was District Attorney Jackie Johnson. She’s been implicated by two county commissioners for preventing arrests. According to commissioners, she “shut down” police to “protect her friend McMichael” who was one of the killers.
This isn’t even her first time doing something like this!
She once went to extraordinary lengths to protect a cop who killed his wife and a male friend. Given her history, she’s not new to protecting killer cops, including former cop Gregory McMichael who killed Ahmaud with his son’s help. This information tells us something important.
We have to be very aware of who our district attorney is and what their politics are. These people have power to decide who is charged and who isn’t before cases ever see a judge. They are some of the most powerful players in the system, that’s why we have important work to do.
A corrupt police department is nothing new, but the right district attorney has the power to hold police accountable. Unfortunately, they often collude with police much like District Attorney Jackie Johnson did.
We have to know who our district attorneys are - AND when elections take place so we can vote them out if need be!