On Saturday, April 6, at 4 p.m., the Savannah Cultural Arts Center will screen “Power of the Pen,” a documentary that educates people about the passage of Georgia House Bill 479, which repealed Georgia's Citizen's Arrest Law after the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. At the event, which is free and open to the public, a book with the same title will be available for purchase.
Georgia State Representative Carl Gilliard of Garden City was a sponsor of the bill and a producer of the documentary. It chronicles the motivations for Gilliard and others working to reform the Citizen's Arrest Law.
“It was that incident in Glynn County that catapulted me to write this bill. We cannot bring Arbery back, but as we move forward, we can say, 'never again that this can happen, that individuals will take justice into their hands,” said Gilliard.
The documentary takes its viewers back to Feb. 23, 2020, the day of Arbery's murder. A 25-year-old Black man, Arbery was jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick. While on his jog, he was pursued by three white men, father and son Greg and Travis McMichael, and neighbor William “Robbie” Bryan. Their pursuit resulted in Arbery being fatally gunned down by Travis McMichael.
According to police reports around that time, the area had a recent string of burglaries. The McMichael’s later told police they pursued Arbery because they suspected he had been involved with some of the burglaries.
A prosecutor initially assigned to the case cited Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law to argue that the shooting was justified.
The law originally passed in 1863 allowed private citizens to make arrests. According to the law, at the time, a citizen could make an arrest if a crime was committed in their presence “or within their immediate knowledge” or if the arrestor had “reasonable” grounds to suspect a person had committed a felony offense.
It was not until two months later, in May, that a video recorded by Bryan of the chase gained international attention that further actions were taken, and the McMichael’s and Bryan were arrested and charged.
“When I saw the video, I didn't see where Arbery had done anything wrong. If they were doing a citizen's arrest, what was the crime that he was committing that caused them to feel like they had to arrest him or use the citizen's arrest,” said Georgia State Representative Roger Bruce, who is featured in the documentary and another one of the sponsors of the legislation.
The video prompted people from all walks of life to react strongly in cities across the country. Many marched, protesting and demanding that justice be served for Arbery as well as for legal reform. Gilliard too was prompted to act.
“As I stood from the windows of the Georgia State Capitol, watching the protests that had now come to our steps, I realized something must be done. I had a vision to draft legislation that would be a catalyst for change,” said Gilliard.
A bipartisan group consisting of State Representatives Carl Gilliard (D-Garden City), Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta), Don Hogan (R-St. Simon’s Island), William Boddie (D-East Point), and Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert) announced in June 2020 legislation to repeal Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law. Some of them speak in the documentary about their motivation to help with this reform that Governor Brian Kemp would go on to sign in 2021.
“This legislation’s focus is to prevent civilians from taking the law into their own hands. This law is clearly outdated. When individuals lose their lives at the hands of civilians who become judges and juries, we must use the power of the pen to move Georgia forward,” said Gilliard.
Through "The Power of the Pen," Gilliard will take viewers on a journey to confront the intersection of systemic racism, legislative action, and individual accountability.
“I want the documentary and book to serve as a poignant reminder of the power of advocacy and the enduring quest for justice in America,” said Gilliard.
The event is free but registration is encouraged. Register by calling 912-436-5325 or visit Gilliard’s site.
