The murder of Ahmaud Arbery

I’ve already had people on social media pointing out that Arbery had a record of some minor criminality. The shooters couldn’t have possibly known that, nor does it matter. You don’t lose your right to life and liberty because you have a record.

I’ve also had people on social media arguing that Arbery was wrong in attacking the men. Why? Arbery, an unarmed man, had zero reason to take orders from three loud and menacing strangers. Judging from the video, he’s the one who acted in self-defense. Had Arbery been armed, he would have had far more justification to shoot than the McMichaels.

The McMichael posse didn’t mistakenly shoot down an innocent man in a botched effort to protect their home or their property. It is unlikely that their lives were in any real danger — and if they were, it was a precarious situation of their own making.