Oprah Winfrey & Stedman Graham Honor Ahmaud Arbery’s Birthday With A 2.6 Mile Walk
Oprah Winfrey & Stedman Graham Honor Ahmaud Arbery’s Birthday With A 2.6 Mile Walk
Media giant Oprah Winfrey, her longtime boyfriend businessman Stedman Graham, journalist and former Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls attendee Thando Dlomo, and another unidentified female honored the memory of Ahmaud Arbery a little differently and chose to walk 2.6 miles in recognition of what would have been Arbery’s 26th birthday this past Friday (May 8).
Ahmaud Arbery was killed just outside of Brunswick, Georgia February 23. Gregory and Travis McMichael, who are father and son, have reportedly told police that they saw Arbery running and believed he was suspect in a burglary in the area. The McMichaels also claimed to police that Arbery attacked them after one of them emerged from their truck with a shotgun. The two have since been charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.
In a short video shared Oprah Winfrey’s Instagram, the group of four are seen walking with their arms around one another. Oprah gave a brief rundown of how they chose to honor the slain Arbery and all four of them wished Ahmaud Arbery a happy birthday:
So we just finished our 2.6 mile walk for Ahmaud today because today would have been his 26th birthday and so as a family, we walk in the name of justice, in the name of his birthday, and we’re sending blessings to his family. Happy birthday, Ahmaud.
Oprah captioned the video with the following:
Today would’ve been Ahmaud Arbery’s 26th birthday. But he’s not here to celebrate because he was senselessly shot and killed doing something to make his life healthier and stronger. He went out for a jog while being Black. I wonder what was he thinking in those last seconds of his life? Unimaginable to go for a run in 2020 and end up dead because of the color of your skin. I spoke with his mom Wanda yesterday who says she feels better now that the two men have finally been arrested. But they were only arrested because WE saw the video. Today people everywhere walked 2.23 miles in the name of Ahmaud and justice. We did 2.26 in honor of his 26th birthday ?? #IRunWithMaud
How do you feel about Oprah & Stedman’s tribute to Ahmaud Arbery? Tell us what you think in the comments below!