Our Demands.
Our demands are a work in progress and begin with issues specifically related to the killing of Ahmaud Arbery on February 23, 2020. However, we understand that justice in our communities can never be limited to the paradigm presented by the criminal legal system. We ultimately seek to address the immediate and long-term needs of Georgians impacted by state violence, mass incarceration and other systems of oppression, and have crafted short-term demands such that they do not ultimately bolster or strengthen oppressive systems and/or institutions.
Hold Prosecutors Accountable.
We call for the immediate resignations of District Attorneys Jackie Johnson and George Barnhill for their violations of their oaths of office and Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct including but not limited to:
Interfering with the law enforcement’s investigation of the McMichaels to shield them from arrest.
Making extrajudicial statements intended to bias the public. See, Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 3.8 (g).
Engaging in dishonest representations of material fact intended to bias the public in favor of the McMichaels. See, Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4 (a)(4).
Aiding and abetting one another in engaging in misconduct. See, Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4 (a)(1).
Failing to report the misconduct of one another. See, Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3.
Engaging in behavior intended to improperly influence a government agency or official. See, Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4 (a)(6)(i).
Engaging in behavior intended to achieve results by means that violate the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and state law. See, Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(a)(6)(iii).
Systematic failures to prosecute crimes committed against community members by law enforcement officers.
We demand community oversight over any attorneys appointed following the resignations of District Attorneys Johnson and Barnhill.
We encourage community members to exercise their power to file grievances with the State Bar of Georgia related to the brazen misconduct of these elected officials.
Ensure Transparent Independent Investigations of Law Enforcement Misconduct.
Require independent investigation of every law enforcement involved shooting.
Require the release of information to the families of victims within specified periods and on a regular basis.
Release audio and video recordings of incidents within 72 hours of review by the investigating agency.
Encourage concurrent internal affairs investigations of law enforcement accused of misconduct so as not to unnecessarily delay suspension and termination of state actors who pose a risk to the safety of our communities.
Support Current Reforms to Georgia’s Criminal Legal System and Push Back Against Reform Repeals.
This tragedy brings to the surface the danger caused by the criminalization of Black communities. We cannot address racialized violence in a vacuum; we must dismantle the ecosystem of criminalization that allows Black communities to be targeted and discarded.
Reject legislation that criminalizes Black and brown communities. Governor Kemp’s gang legislation will cast an even darker shadow on members of our communities as they walk, jog or drive in their day to day lives. HB 994 perpetuates the stereotypes that cause young women and men to be stalked and killed by legal and extralegal forces.
Advocate for an end to Georgia’s citizen’s arrest statute. Georgia law currently allows citizens to arrest each other for serious crimes committed in their presence or of which they have personal knowledge. This law is being used to justify the McMichaels’ brutal murder of Ahmaud Arbery, but it can also be used by law enforcement officers who are not properly certified should they choose to execute an arrest. Given the heightened racialized context in which we currently live, this statute puts Black communities at increased risk of profiling, violence and death.
Treat kids like kids. In his letter justifying his failure to charge the McMichaels with murder, DA Barnhill attempted to use an incident Ahmaud’s childhood as bad character evidence. This demonstrates that charging children as adults serves to cause harm even after death. We support legislation that prohibits minors from being charged as adults in criminal courts. .We acknowledge the school to prison pipeline as an international assault on our communities and know that this is only one step in tackling a much broader problem.
End Wealth-Based Detention. DA Barnhill also remarked in his letter that Ahmaud’s loved one is being held without bail for an offense. This was a shameless attempt to tarnish the reputation of Ahmaud’s family. Nevertheless, Barnhill said what we know to be true- bail is used to punish people before trial in ways that disproportionately harm Black communities. We oppose the passage of SB 402, which would end signature bonds in Georgia.
Educate and Engage Voters.
We know that voters must be educated about issues pertaining to their elected prosecutors. We support the work of organizers regularly and actively engaging around our issues throughout Georgia.