BALTIMORE — On Friday, people all over the country will lace up their sneakers to run for Ahmaud Arbery.
The 25-year-old African American man was chased down and shot by two white men in Georgia who claimed they thought he was a burglar.
This happened back in February, but state investigators just arrested the men Thursday night.
RELATED: Following social media outcry, pair charged in death of Ahmaud Arbery
Dr. Muslimah ‘Ali runs through her Catonsville neighborhood with purpose. Whether it’s as an advocate for Run4AllWomen or to show support of Arbery.
“It kind of starts to hit home, its like a cycle of grief that happens all over again,” ’Ali said.
Arbery would have turned 26 on Friday.
His family said he was going for a run and never came home.
Police say Gregory McMichael and his son Travis chased him down in their truck because they thought he was the suspect responsible for a rash of home break-ins in the area.
The McMichaels told police Travis and Arbery struggled over Travis’ shotgun before Arbery was fatally wounded.
“We have three daughters and we have a son. I think about my husband who’s active he runs in our neighborhood, I think about my son especially,” said ‘Ali. “How we’re going to continue to have him navigate this world. It doesn’t really matter your background, your socioeconomic status. The only thing unfortunately that seems to matter is the color of your skin and we can’t change that.”
She and thousands of people across the country plan to run 2.23 miles on Friday — signifying the date he was killed.
“All of my runner friends up and down my social media pages were saying hey we’re going to do this. Trying to galvanize people to do it in their own areas as well.”
‘Ali is originally from Savannah, Georgia, not far from where Arbery was shot.
“Our eyes are on you Georgia. Our eyes are on you. We want to see you do the right thing here.”
Running for a reason, hundreds of miles away and watching to see if their footsteps and voices are heard.
If you want to get involved with Friday’s event take a video of your run using the #IRunWithMaud.
