Whether the three men accused in Mr. Arbery’s death were motived by racism will quite likely be a major theme in the case.
A complicated jury selection process kicked off Monday in the trial of the three white men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man they had chased through a coastal Georgia neighborhood, with lawyers sparring over what kinds of questions the hundreds of potential jurors could be subjected to, including questions about their views on race and the Confederate battle flag. The slaying of Mr. Arbery, which was filmed by one of the men and viewed worldwide, sparked outrage and protest. In and around Brunswick, a city of about 15,000 people, it led to a resurgence of civil rights organizing and political activism. On Monday, there was a palpable sense of tension as journalists, TV trucks and activists gathered outside of the Glynn County Courthouse amid moss-draped trees and a gentle breeze off the nearby East River. A few dozen protesters, some of whom had come from out of town, carried signs declaring “Justice for Ahmaud.” It may be difficult to find local residents who have not closely followed the most explosive murder case in South Georgia in decades, but the court system is making an extraordinary effort to seat a local jury. As many as 1,000 people could eventually be called for service in Glynn County, which has a population of about 84,500. Officials have set up an intake center at a gymnasium in a local park, where potential jurors will be split into groups of 20 and given dates to report to the courthouse downtown. Ronald M. Adams, the clerk of Glynn County Superior Court, said 600 people were instructed to report to the gym on Monday; another 400, he said, could be called next Monday if a jury has not yet been seated.
