![Georgia lawmakers to take up hate crime law, repeal of citizens arrest](https://www.news4jax.com/resizer/bdRxXmhFMWU_YILx53908TStcPY=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WLSHAOJED5DCXDBN3QO56ASVK4.jpg)
Georgia lawmakers to take up hate crime law, repeal of citizens arrest
GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. Georgia state lawmakers are heading back to the Capitol on Monday after being away for three months because of COVID-19. In an open video published by the New York Times, Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, called for Georgia lawmakers to pass the hate crime law. Lawmakers will also introduce a bill that would repeal Georgias citizens arrest law, which has been in place since the Civil War. Arbery's murder spurred frustration and calls for action as it shined a spotlight on both the citizen's arrest law and the lack of a hate crime law in the state. The citizen's arrest law says a private citizen "... may arrest an offender if the offense is committed in his presence or within his immediate knowledge.
![Georgia congressman discusses Ahmaud Arbery case, controversy among his constituents](https://www.news4jax.com/resizer/hI-peTN0UGzyjy4vegAfPKm-9kQ=/1280x720/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6HDMDBWI4BAU3NXT4RXIUV5R2M.jpg)
Georgia congressman discusses Ahmaud Arbery case, controversy among his constituents
Attorneys for Ahmaud Arberys family want Washington, D.C., involved in the case. Also this week, a lawyer for the Arbery family said that a federal prosecutor told the slain mans mother federal officials are looking into how the case was handled. Im much more comfortable now than I was, say a month ago, at what is happening, said U.S. Rep. News4Jax spoke with Carter on Thursday about the case and the controversy among his constituents. They were taken into custody less than two days after the case was handed over to Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
![Attorney for man who filmed Arbery killing: No precedent for clients arrest](https://www.news4jax.com/resizer/sRq275oTz6GnngvIhjb20JpeLYU=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/05-23-2020/t_691c63d8ba574424b40d02a58b42078e_name_image.jpg)
Attorney for man who filmed Arbery killing: No precedent for clients arrest
The McMichaels both told police the day Arbery was shot that Bryan had attempted to block Arbery prior to the confrontation where he was shot three times. According to arrest warrants obtained from GBI, Bryan attempted to confine and detain Arbery utilizing his vehicle on multiple occasions" during the encounter that ended with Arberys killing. Jacksonville attorney Gene Nichols, who is not affiliated with the case, believes a speedy trial for such a complex case is not what any attorney would typically do for their client. The video shows Arbery run around the truck to the right before he cuts back in front of it. Arbery can be seen punching a man holding what appears to be a shotgun, who then fires a third shot point-blank.