BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — An attorney for one of the white men standing trial in the death of Ahmaud Arbery told the judge Thursday he doesn’t want “any more Black pastors” in the courtroom after the Rev. Al Sharpton sat with the slain man’s family.
Kevin Gough represents William “Roddie” Bryan, who along with father and son Greg and Travis McMichael is charged with murder and other crimes in Arbery’s Feb. 23, 2020, killing. The 25-year-old Black man was chased and fatally shot after the defendants spotted him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick.
Gough told Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley that he was concerned Sharpton’s presence in court Wednesday was an attempt to intimidate the disproportionately white jury hearing the case. The jury was not in the courtroom when he made the remarks.
“Obviously there’s only so many pastors they can have,” Gough said. “And if their pastor’s Al Sharpton right now that’s fine, but then that’s it. We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here … sitting with the victim’s family, trying to influence the jurors in this case.”
Jason Sheffield, one of Travis McMichael’s lawyers, told the judge he didn’t notice any distractions caused by Sharpton, who sat in the back row of the courtroom gallery wearing a mask.
Gough said he didn’t realize Sharpton had been there until after court had adjourned for the day.
“You weren’t even aware of it until later?” the judge said. “I’m not sure what we’re doing.”
Sharpton held a prayer vigil and news conference outside the Glynn County courthouse Wednesday afternoon to show support for Arbery’s family. Afterward he joined Arbery’s parents and their lawyers to listen to portions of the trial testimony.
Sharpton said in a statement that Gough’s remarks showed “arrogant insensitivity.”
“I respect the defense attorney doing his job,” Sharpton said, “but this is beyond defending your client, it is insulting the family of the victim.”
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“I respect the defense attorney doing his job,” Sharpton said, “but this is beyond defending your client, it is insulting the family of the victim.”
Nice try, Al—but eliminating you from the picture is no insult to anybody. Wherever Sharpton makes an appearance, he will be talking smack either during the event or at some point afterwards. Under his guise as a “pastor”, you had best believe that he is there as an instigator.
Al must have found someone with deep pockets to fund him. He doesn’t go anyplace unless he can make a buck. Many of the poor blacks actually believe the **** he spouts and that he’s helping them. Once he leaves they begin to realize that all he did was stir things up with his phony lies.
AND I have never understood HOW SOMEONE can have multiple ‘pastors’ anyway?!
It’s time for the devil to call him home. He ain’t nobody but a racist trouble maker
” That Pig Won’t Fly , ” Its became moe and more evident That Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson only put , ” Reverent, ” before their Names So that they would appear to have a moral Basis for their concerns of the Black Man and Other Minorities. But the reality becomes evident as more time passes that these two ” Race Hustlers , ” Al Sharpton, and Jessie Jackson rode the Civil Rights Movement as long as they could and the unwise, have finally have become Wise to what these two ” Race Husler’s were Up to All along.
Just like pelosi, i don’t think the Devil WANTS THESE two down there… They may try to take over!
Al just like jackson are like cockroaches that appear when they think they can get away with something. I have found that there are far far more racist blacks in America then cockroaches. After watching the show survivor since it’s inception never have I heard a group of whites, latinos or asians say they were voting out others based on their races. Until now, the blacks on the show have decided to vote out all non-blacks. Now who really in America are the current practicing racists?