LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rain did not stop local runners from participating in the national movement honoring a Georgia man killed while on a jog.
#IRunWithAhmaud encourages all runners, and non-runners, to go 2.23 miles in honor of Ahmaud Arbery. Arbery was murdered while jogging near his home February 23.
Greg McMichael and his son, Travis, confronted Arbery will he was running, allegedly grabbing a shotgun and handgun because they "didn't know if he was armed or not."
The police report said that when they attempted to cut him off, he began running in the other direction. They pulled up next to him, and Travis got out of the truck with a shotgun. His father said the two started fighting over the gun, and then Travis shot and killed Arbery.
Months later, graphic video surfaced from the incident, showing the moment McMichael shot Arbery. Both Greg and Travis McMichael have been charged with murder and aggravated assault after the GBI investigated his death.
Several local runners participated in the movement honoring Arbery on what would have been his 26th birthday.
"This happened in February, and we're just now becoming aware of it," Riece Hamilton said. "That's why we're doing 2.23 miles...he died Februrary 23."
An avid runner, Hamilton said Arbery's death adds to the list of things she needs to worry about.
"This is something I do almost every day, and now this is another thing I have to think about while being black," Hamilton said. "We are already aware of what it's like to live while black, what it's like to drive while black, to shop while black, and now what it's like to run while black. We don't that to be constantly in your face to say hey this is happening because we live it every day."
Fellow runner Michael Clemons also ran the 2.23 miles, saying that though he does not have a connection to Arbery, "we are all humans."
"I was hesitant of doing this because I come from a place of privilege being a white male, but it is important for all of us to use the voice that we have to speak up and be allies," Clemons said. "The change isn't going to happen unless we are all changing together."
Hamilton echoed Clemons' thoughts, saying this is a time for all voices to step up to implement change.
"While the reality is that someone white may not deal with the same things that I'm dealing with doesn't mean that they can't speak out against injustice," Hamilton said. "It feels like a burden when it always falls on the black people to speak out and say this is an issue."
Greg and Travis McMichael appeared in court via video conference Friday afternoon.
More on the death of Ahmaud Arbery:
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