Georgia law marker produces Ahmaud Arbery documentary - WJCL News Savannah
SAVANNAH, Ga. —
The murder of Ahmaud Arbery gripped the nation. The crime also inspired a Georgia lawmaker to repeal the state’s citizen’s arrest law. State Rep. Carl Gilliard’s effort is now the subject of a documentary he wrote and produced to chronicle his successful legislative effort.
'The Power of the Pen' premiers Tuesday evening at Savannah State University.
“This was mammoth legislation that basically changed the narrative of Georgia,” said Gilliard, a Democrat representing parts of Chatham County.
Gilliard said he wanted to produce the documentary to remind people how difficult it was to get the legislation passed. The state’s citizen arrest law dates back to 1863. It was used in the failed defense of Arbrey’s three convicted murderers as the reason for chasing and trapping the unarmed black jogger they eventually shot to death.
“I wanted to write the documentary because I need the story to be told that it wasn’t a hand clap, and the governor signed the bill,” Gilliard said.
Gilliard reminds viewers of the mood of the nation as protesters poured into the street after the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. He shows how his bill made national headlines as the lobbying effort to pass the repeal legislation gained important bi-partisan support. Ironically the night before Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law, Gilliard got dangerously sick and had surgery. He could not attend the signing ceremony.
Gilliard said, “It really grieved not to be there for all the work we had done. I texted the governor and said I am not going to make it. But I need you to save me a pen. When I did get back to the Capitol weeks later, there was a pen on my desk that the governor had used to sign that bill into law.”
Gilliard said he is talking with local systems to use this documentary as a teaching tool on civics about how bills are passed in the statehouse.
The Power of Pen will be shown Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. This event will be inside the Torian Auditorium in the College of Business Administration, Howard Jordan building and is free and open to the public.
source: https://www.wjcl.com/article/arbery-documentary-produced/39740562
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