Family of Ahmaud Arbery leads rally ahead of trial of men charged in killing

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Outside of the Glynn County Courthouse, Ahmaud Arbery's aunt, Thea Brooks, joins a group during a demonstration calling for the conviction of the three men who face charges in the death of Ahmaud Arbery and other county officials they say were complicit in his death. / Georgia Public Broadcasting

The jury selection for the trial over the killing of Ahmaud Arbery begins Monday in Glynn County, Ga. Ahead of what may be a contentious few weeks, Arbery's family members and community organized a rally outside the courthouse and a ride in the neighborhood where Arbery was shot.

About 100 people attended the event Saturday morning, touting the changes made in the aftermath of Arbery's death.

Thea Brooks, Arbery's aunt who has been leading the activism and push for policy changes since her nephew's death, wore a shirt at the rally that showed a checklist of what's changed in Georgia and in the county; among them, the establishment of a hate crimes law in the state, abolishing citizens arrest protections, and the hiring of a Black chief of police in the county where Arbery was killed.

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Members of Ahmaud Arbery's family, including aunts Thea Brooks and Carla Arbery, rally outside of the Glynn County Courthouse Saturday, ahead of the trial of the men who face charges in his death. / Georgia Public Broadcasting

Organizers are hoping the momentum from the last year will continue into the next months during the trial. There will be a vigil honoring Arbery on Sunday and, on the day of the jury selection on Monday, there are plans for another rally outside the courthouse.

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Zyon Thorpe is surrounded by signs in support of Ahmaud Arbery outside of the Glynn County Courthouse during a rally on Saturday. / Georgia Public Broadcasting