(RepublicanInformer.com)- During the murder trial of the three men charged in Ahmaud Arbery’s death, heavily-armed black militia groups turned up outside of the courthouse last Monday, prompting the defense to demand a mistrial before the case went to the jury.
The mistrial was denied and, as jurors began deliberations, the militias were back on the street outside of the courthouse.
The groups included Black Lives Matter 757, the New Black Panther Party, and the New Black Liberation Militia. Videos posted on social media showed militia members calling for revolution and telling the crowd that it was “time to pick up the gun.”
During closing arguments on Monday, dozens of people, many wearing full masks or balaclavas and carrying firearms, chanted “Black power will keep us safe.”
Armed Protesters from the New Black Panthers March outside of the Glynn County Courthouse "We are here to come and stand in solidarity on the behalf of Trial"#AhmaudArbery
Full video https://t.co/s0hpJ1luB7 pic.twitter.com/JyQ6Enomza
— Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) November 23, 2021
One militant named N. Muhammad who fancies himself the supreme commander of the Black Liberation Militia, warned “y’all are in serious trouble because the wrath of karma is coming on America.”
New Black Panther Party militant Mikhail Muhammad said that they believe in “an eye for an eye” and called for “a squad of undercover hitmen to go after these goddam killers.”
Kevin Gough, an attorney for one of the defendants, called for a mistrial, arguing that these militia groups were there to intimidate the jurors. However, Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley denied Gough’s request arguing that individuals have the right to be outside of the courthouse.
On Wednesday, the jury returned guilty verdicts for Travis McMichael, 35, his father Gregory McMichael, 65, and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, 52.
Travis McMichael, who shot Arbery three times, was found guilty on all nine counts including malice and felony murder.
His father, Greg, who carried a revolver but did not fire it, was convicted on eight of the nine counts including felony murder. Bryan, who pursued Arbery in a separate vehicle and filmed the fatal shooting, was convicted on six of the nine counts, including felony murder.
