December 2021
News
The Voyager 3
Jury reaches an all-guilty verdict in the Ahmaud Arbery case
men were arrested and charged with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. In trial, the McMichael’s claimed that they were making a citizen’s arrest and suspected Arbery of multiple break-ins in their neighborhood. The owner of the building under construcn the words of world-renowned civtion that Arbery previously entered conil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther firmed that nothing was stolen from there King Jr. ; “Free at last, Free at last, nor was anything damaged. Thank God almighty we are free Arbery’s case was closely followed by at last.” For a year and a half, the the public after the video murder of anU.S. and the whole world have been waitother unarmed Black man, George Floyd, ing for the trial of the murder of Ahamud in April 2020 surfaced on social media. Arbery. People watched Mr. Floyd beg for his On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, life before dying at the knees of Derek a 25-year-old Black man, was murdered Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, for as he was running unarmed in his neighroughly nine minutes. borhood in Brunswick, Georgia. One year The nation was trailblazing with civil and ten months later, his family finally rights undertones, gets the justice they protests sparking deserve as his killers about the treatment “Black kids’ lives do were found guilty and convicted of murder matter. All lives matter. of BIPOC (Black, Indegenious, and on Wednesday, NoWe do not want to see People of Color) at vember 24, 2021. anyone go through this. the hands of law enBefore Ahmaud Let’s keep fighting and forcement, and peoArbery set out to go make this a better place ple chanting the fajogging, he entered a mous words, “Black building under confor all human beings.” Lives Matter.” struction, which was This long-awaited caught on a hometrial took place on November 5th and startsurveillance video. He then proceeded to ed with opening statements and evidence. go jogging two miles from his home. UnAfter nearly three weeks of testimonies beknownst to him, two armed men were and new evidence being presented,the waiting for him in a pick-up truck. jury made the final decision to convict Travis McMichael (35) and his father all three men as guilty on all counts. The Greg McMichael (65) attacked Arbery as verdict, delivered by nine White women, he was running past the truck before fighttwo White men, and one Black man came ing for his life when three shots fired by after more than 11 hours of deliberation Travis McMichael rang through the neighspanning two days. borhood. Arbery’s death was recorded on The following information lists the men video by William “Roddie” Bryan (52), convicted and each count they were conwho was working with the killers. victed of: More than two months later, all three By MADISON JOLLEY ‘23 and MAHAWA BANGOURA ‘23 News Editor and Arts and Culture Editor
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Travis McMichael, who fatally shot Arbery, is guilty on all charges: malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Gregory McMichael, the father of Travis McMichael who rode armed in the bed of a pickup as his son pursued Arbery, is not guilty of malice murder but guilty of the other eight charges. William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., a neighbor of the McMichael’s who joined the pursuit and filmed the fatal shooting, is guilty of three counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Bryan was cleared on the charge of malice murder, felony murder involving aggravated assault with a firearm, and the count of aggravated assault with a firearm. Ahmaud Arbery (pictured above) was shot The sentencing date has not been and killed on February 23, 2020; may he set for the men, but prosecutors finally rest in peace. Photo from New York Times believe they will seek sentences of marched, those who prayed.” life in prison without the possibilArbery Sr. continued their statement ity of parole. of gratitude: “I want to give all glory to Reverend Al Sharpton and the Arbery God because that’s who made all this posfamily are content with the verdict and are sible… It’s not one side that did this. God finally at peace. put us all together to make this happen.” The parents of Ahmaud, Wanda CooperRev. Sharpton ended this press conferJones and Marcus Arbery Sr, expressed ence with a word of prayer and these closwords of gratitude to the press and others ing remarks: “Let it be clear that almost who listened. 10 years after Trayon (Martin), God used “I just want to say thank you guys,” Wanda and Marcus’ son to prove that if Cooper-Jones said. “It’s been a long fight. we kept marching and kept fighting, we It’s been a hard fight, but God is good… would make you hear us. I never thought this day would come, but We’ve got a lot more battles to fight, but God is good, and I just want to tell everythis was an important battle today.” body thank you, thank you for those who
Dobbs v. Jackson debate on abortion spurs division and nationwide chaos By LAURA SILENZIO ‘23 Opinion Editor
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ississippi has historically been a conservative state, and that’s probably not a shocker for anyone reading. So when news broke around the country about the Supreme Court case against their only abortion clinic, many were disappointed but not surprised. The Supreme Court case ruling of Roe v. Wade made abortion legal nationwide in 1973, almost 50 years ago. Since then, the ruling has been under mounting attacks, even more so as of recent due to the current political atmosphere. There is a possible Mississippi law circulating that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. This is the most consequential dispute to come before the court in probably an entire generation, seeing as its debating the line of viability, and its setting a precedent for the future of states’ right to change/adjust laws as they see fit. What’s behind the law is an important question about the stability of the court as an institution in the first place, as things are turned over constantly in the court. It’s not exactly the law itself but the message it’s sending, making the Supreme Court rulings feel more like political acts with a 6-3 conservative majority. The justices have dealt with the Roe V. Wade debate in numerous cases over the span of the 50 years it’s been in place. On Wednesday, December 1st, the court considered a federal appeals court decision that initially struck down the Mississippi law, seemingly supporting these limita-
tions on abortions. The 5th US Court of Appeals, known to be one of the most conservative courts in the country, invalidated the Mississippi law, saying it was a direct contravention of Roe, which in and of itself shows the public the difference between a political opinion and a court ruling. “In an unbroken line dating to Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court’s abortion cases have established (and affirmed and re-affirmed) a women’s right to choose an abortion before viability,” the Court held. Upholding a precedent is important to the court as a whole because it shows citizens that laws are firm and not about any “political agenda.” Mississippi appealed this decision to the Supreme Court, and after the justices agreed to take up the dispute, the state Attorney General said “This court should overrule Roe,” taking it a step even further. However, pro-choice supporters were quick to respond with Julie Rikelman, a lawyer for Jackson Women’s health organization, making the point that if the Court were to suddenly overrule Roe, after some 50 years, the new court would be turning its back on its institutional legitimacy. Sure, it’s 15 weeks now, but what will it be next? This ruling not only affects the lives of Mississippi women and families but also puts in jeopardy the establishment of precedents and the legitimacy of the institution as a whole in cases all over the nation, affecting what is law and what is merely the preferences of the court’s current membership.
The new Mississippi abortion law being considered in the Supreme Court has citizens questioning the stability of the court as an institution.
Photo by Dwain Currier
Uplift is Eastern’s new mental health club
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By SHREYA KOMAR ‘22 Staff Reporter
unior Krisha Parikh has been a central figure in the new mental health club Uplift’s formation, and assists advisor Mrs. Goldthorp with club duties. “The club is going to focus on the importance of mental health,” she said. “We are looking to have monthly meditations along with painting days, discussions on mental health (such as anxiety, coping mechanisms, etc.), movie nights, and anything you can imagine! I really want this club to be a positive and welcoming environment that’s a calm break from the stressful environment of the school.” Mrs. Goldthorp expressed that after seeing students struggle during last year’s pandemic, she wanted to create a community and culture at Eastern where students
can lift each other up. “Our goals are really to create support for people who need it and people who want to get involved, hoping that it spreads to others. We are hoping to invite guest speakers to come in to do some different events,” she said. She defines mental health as taking care of your mind, body, and soul. “It’s making sure that you take time for yourself, because so often we are caught up in the “daily grind” of our routine,” she says. Anyone can join Uplift. Mrs. Goldthorp expressed that the goal was to attract students who can truly benefit from it. “If we can help build up Eastern as a community of mindful people, I think that we can make it a better place,” she said. Uplift is not about padding your resume or forcing yourself through grueling practice sessions. It’s about you.
