Hundreds of people take part in a ride in honor of Ahmaud Arbery’s memory

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – It’s been just over a year since Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed in the Satilla Shores neighborhood, near US 17, near Brunswick.

There is a small memorial for Ahmaud Arbery in the neighborhood, but something much bigger appeared there on Saturday, as hundreds of people drove and cycled through the neighborhood on a tour in honor of Arbery’s life.

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“I rode with Ahmaud today because I grew up with him. I saw him around the neighborhood and I felt that this was something I needed to do to show my support for him and his family, ”said driver Zyron Wise. “It brought back a lot of emotions for me personally. For something like this to happen and the way it happened really hurt a lot of people. It could have been any of us. “

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Arbery was shot and killed just over a year ago on February 23, 2020. Prosecutors said he was confronted while running through the neighborhood and now three men – Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William Roddie Bryan – are awaiting trial on charges of manslaughter, false imprisonment and several other charges in connection with Arbery’s death.

“We have to remember that we have to hold these people accountable for what they have done. And then we have to go out and fix things, change the legislation and just be proactive in our community, ”said Carla Arbery, Ahmaud Arbery’s aunt.

Arbery’s aunts, who organized Saturday’s tour, said that although the tour was emotionally difficult for many, they plan to make it an annual event.

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They also said that the tour was more than his nephew. It was also for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others whose lives they say were lost to a system that failed.

“We just want to live in love and togetherness and just know how to defend justice and defend everyone,” said Thea Brooks, Arbery’s aunt.

The family said Arbery’s death was not in vain because they saw changes in government leadership and the Georgia arrest law – which was cited in the early days after Ahmaud’s shooting death as a reason not to prosecute his accused murderers.

The family said they are grateful for the community’s support and are preparing for the trial.

RELATED: ‘A piece of me is gone’ the coach reflects on Ahmaud Arbery’s life a year after filming

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Although they say that it will be difficult to relive the moments of Ahmaud’s death, it is a struggle that they say they must face for everyone.

“You have to relive those moments when he lay down alone,” said Thea Brooks. “You have to relive those moments he was thinking about when he ran for 7 minutes, so the trial will be another story.”

But they were supported by people across the country and in their backyard – like a group from Jacksonville who ran Jeeps during Saturday’s ride.

“We have to keep your name alive. We have to keep his memory alive, ”said Brandon Thomas, organizer of Demand the Respect. “And to know that injustice is never tolerated and will never be tolerated.”