SC’s Tim Scott: ‘Justice must be served’ in shooting of unarmed black man in Georgia

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is choosing again to enter the fray with public remarks condemning the shooting of an unarmed black man.

Scott, the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate, tweeted that “justice must be served” in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old African American who was fatally shot in Brunswick, Georgia, in February after a white father and son — Gregory and Travis McMichael — reportedly grabbed weapons and chased Arbery, who was out on a jog.

The men later told investigators they thought Arbery was a suspect in a local burglary. But a cell phone video from an unidentified witness contradicts that account and has led to a grand jury investigation and calls for charges.

Scott said it’s clear what happened.

“Every.single.time. The excuses pour in — ‘he looked suspicious’ … ‘we thought he was committing a crime ’… The fact remains, #AhmaudArbery was hunted down from a pickup truck and murdered in cold blood,” Scott tweeted Wednesday. “My heart breaks for his family, and justice must be served.

“#IRunWithAhmaud, just as every person of color should be able to go for a jog or out to the store without fear,” Scott continued, using a trending hashtag to indicate solidarity with Arbery. “Congress can do our part — starting with finally fully passing anti-lynching legislation. However, as a nation, we have to admit some hard truths.”

Scott concluded: “#AhmaudArbery is far from the first person of color to meet this fate. But his life, or James Byrd’s, or Emmett Till’s, can’t be forgotten. The only way we can stop this is together, as one American family. It’s too late for Ahmaud; let’s ensure his memory powers a better future.”

Full article here.