Latest news with #Arbery
Los Angeles Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Ahmaud Arbery's mother ‘overwhelmed' by choral tribute to her son: L.A. arts and culture this week
Ahmaud Arbery. His name is just one that we've come to associate with senseless racial violence in America. On the afternoon of Feb. 23, 2020, in Georgia's Glynn County, Arbery, 25, was out running when three white men chased him down and shot him. His death ricocheted across the nation just three months before the murder of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. Now, five years later, the Grammy-winning choral ensemble Tonality is dedicating a show to Arbery at the Wallis in Beverly Hills. The May 24 program, 'Put Your Guns Down,' includes the world premiere of founding Artistic Director Alexander Lloyd Blake's piece 'Running From, Running To: A Musical Reflection on Ahmaud Arbery.' Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, will attend the concert and has already heard Blake's 30-minute work for choir, orchestra and soloists. She took time while traveling to answer questions via email about experiencing the music. 'When I first heard the composition, I was overwhelmed. It's beautiful. I wish I could play it over and over again,' Cooper-Jones wrote. 'The fact that someone took the time to honor Ahmaud in this way — it means more than I can put into words. One of the movements is called 'Running Free,' and when I heard that, I told Alex that it was like we were made to make a connection.' After Arbery's death, Cooper-Jones channeled her grief into creating the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, which champions mental health awareness and provides scholarships and youth development camps for young Black men. 'One of my favorite quotes from Ahmaud is, 'When life gets hard, you gotta get hard with it,'' Cooper-Jones wrote. 'I hear his voice saying that all the time, especially when I get to the point where I want to give up. Starting the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation hasn't been easy. It's hard work. But those words keep me going.' Arbery, Cooper-Jones explained, inspired everything she does. 'He had a way of leaving every person with 'I love you,' no matter who they were. Since losing him, I try to do the same, letting people know I love them, just in case I leave here tomorrow,' she said. 'Through the foundation, I'm working to be the change for young Black men like Ahmaud who may be facing mental health challenges or simply struggling to find their place in the world. If they choose running as their outlet, I want them to be able to run free, without fear. That's what this work is about, honoring Ahmaud's legacy by fighting for freedom, for justice, and for love.' Tonality's Blake also wants to honor Arbery's life with his music. 'I remember reading about Ahmaud Arbery's story in 2020 and feeling a deep frustration at how little attention it received. That frustration led me to create a project in 2020 with 60 Black musicians to honor the countless Black lives lost without consequence,' Blake wrote in an email. ''Running From, Running To' is my way of ensuring his story is not forgotten — a reflection of our need to remember, to heal, and to strive toward justice that has yet to be fully realized.' 'Put Your Guns Down,' begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased at I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, grateful for Cooper-Jones' reflections on the power of love. Here's a rundown of this week's other arts news. Playwright and actor Roger Q. Mason made waves with their play 'Lavendar Men,' which reimagined Abraham Lincoln's life through a queer lens. Now Mason has launched the 'Califas Trilogy,' plays exploring the California dream at various points in the past, present and future. Times contributor Amanda L. Andrei sat down with Mason to discuss the works, two of which are up and running. Check them out and dive into Mason's story. 'California Story' runs through June 3 at Caminito Theatre of Los Angeles City College 'Hide and Hide' runs through May 29 at Skylight Theatre in L.A.; 'Juana Maria' runs May 25-June 1 at Caminito Theatre. Tod Machover's opera 'Schoenberg in Hollywood' is based on a remarkable incident from 1935: In the office of legendary Hollywood producer Irving Thalberg, composer Arnold Schoenberg asks for more than an astronomical fee to score the MGM feature film adaptation of Pearl S. Buck's 'The Good Earth.' He also asks for full control of the movie's sound — and wants the actors to recite their lines to his musical rhythms. Three more performances of 'Schoenberg in Hollywood' by the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music are scheduled this week at the Nimoy Theater in Westwood. Until then, you can read music critic Mark Swed's take on Schoenberg and his contribution to the L.A. sound.7:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd., L.A. Since Henrik Ibsen's classic play 'A Doll's House' premiered in 1879, one thing has not changed: It's still shocking for a woman to walk out on her child. Which is where playwright Lucas Hnath's starts his 2017 play, 'A Doll's House, Part 2': 15 years after Ibsen's female protagonist, Nora, left her husband and daughter to find her own way in life. In a new production at Pasadena Playhouse, screen actors Elizabeth Reaser and Jason Butler Harner play Nora and husband Torvald, coming up with their own answers about what these two former life partners may now think and feel about each other. Read all about the show here. Times theater critic Charles McNulty, a part-time professor at CalArts, enjoyed reading playwright Sarah Ruhl's new book, 'Lessons From My Teachers.' Ruhl is a playwriting instructor at Yale who finds plenty to learn from her students. 'Even in the classroom, with its necessary hierarchies and rigorously observed boundaries, teaching isn't a one-way street,' McNulty writes in review of the book. 'Authority is enriched, not undermined, by intellectual challenge. The most thrilling moments in my years of teaching drama have come when in the dialectical heat of class discussion, a new way of understanding a scene or a character's psychology emerges from conflicting perspectives.' The classical music world is abuzz with the thought that conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen might return to lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic after Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leaves at the end of next season to take over the New York Philharmonic. Times critic Swed ruminates on the possibility of Salonen playing a transitional role for a couple years while the search continues for a permanent successor. Massive cutbacks to the National Endowment for the Arts continue to send shock waves through L.A.'s arts community. East West Players announced that it lost a $20,000 grant meant to support the creative team behind the world premiere of Prince Gomolvilas' 'Paranormal Inside,' scheduled for the fall. 'The loss of this funding represents more than a financial setback; it is a symbolic blow to our mission and to the creatives who rely on institutional support to tell vital, underrepresented stories,' the theater wrote in an email to supporters. The loss, which represents 10% of the budget for the project, couldn't come at a worse time for the company, which in April was forced to layoff five full-time staff members. The theater is calling on members of the community to help fundraise and to contact their local representatives to protest the Trump administration's proposed elimination of the NEA. A massive art installation created by transgender and nonbinary artists in support of visibility and acceptance for their community was unveiled Saturday in Washington, D.C. The 'Freedom to Be' project was spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union and helped kick off World Pride in the capital by displaying hundreds of quilts meant to build on the legacy of the 1987 AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Getty has announced the lineup for its free outdoor summer concert series, 'Off the 405.' This year's performers include Bartees Strange, Cate Le Bon, Helado Negro, Alabaster DePlume and Moses Sumney. Check out the full schedule here. Times travel writer Christopher Reynolds, who may have the best job at the paper, just released this list of 'the 34 coolest, kitschiest, most fascinating motels in California,' which appeals to just about every aspect of my personality and taste. Now I just need a few months off — and a lottery win — to stay at each and every one.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ahmaud Arbery Foundation launches campaign to honor his legacy ahead of 31st birthday
The Brief The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation is launching a new campaign to honor Arbery's life, coinciding with what would have been his 31st birthday. Arbery's mother is encouraging donations of $31 to support scholarships, youth leadership camps, and mental health programs. The three men convicted of Arbery's murder have requested a new trial. ATLANTA - The foundation formed in memory of Ahmaud Arbery is launching a new campaign to honor his life, just weeks before what would have been his 31st birthday. Arbery's case captured national attention after he was shot and killed while running through a Brunswick neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020. His mother later founded the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, which works to raise money for causes that reflect his legacy and is dedicated to keeping Arbery's memory alive. The backstory Arbery was 25 years old when he was killed. Father and son Greg and Travis McMichael chased and shot Arbery, while their former neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, joined the pursuit and recorded the encounter. All three men were sentenced to life in prison. Dig deeper Ahead of May 8, the day Arbery would have turned 31, his mother is encouraging supporters to donate $31 to fund scholarships, youth leadership camps, and mental health programs focused on investing in young people's futures. She hopes for every board member to be able to give away up to $31,000 in $31 increments. What they're saying "I tell people all the time that Ahmaud was killed in the year 2020 during the COVID pandemic when we were all shut indoors, and people were paying attention. But now, it's five years later, and everything is almost back to normal. But we cannot forget what happened," said Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones. What's next The three men convicted in his death have since requested a new trial. What you can do You can learn more about the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation and its fundraisers on its website. SEE ALSO: Ahmaud Arbery murder 5 years later: Atlanta runners gather in his memory Trial over for former Georgia prosecutor in Ahmaud Arberry case Georgia men who killed Ahmaud Arbery asking court for new trial Runners preparing for 2nd annual Run with Maud in Atlanta Ahmaud Arbery's killers asking court to overturn hate crime convictions The Source FOX 5's Kim Leoffler spoke with Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, for this article. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports were also used.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ahmaud Arbery's Mother Says Removal of D.C.'s BLM Mural Is Bad Omen
A Black mother who lost her son before the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement says the removal of BLM Plaza in our nation's capital is a sign the country is in a bad place. Ahmaud Arbery's mom, Wanda Cooper Jones, tells TMZ ... the removal of the BLM mural in Washington, D.C. "feels like a bad omen" and she says it serves as "a reminder of how fragile progress can be." Wanda says BLM was never about murals, monuments, or symbolic gestures ... it's always been about accountability, justice and meaningful change -- but she doesn't like the change being made here. As we reported ... Jamie Foxx says Black American social efforts are taking a step back as a result of President Trump pressuring D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to remove the mural under threat of losing federal funding. Arbery was murdered in February 2020 while out for a run in Georgia ... and video of his murder at the hands of 3 white men sparked widespread outrage. BLM really took off after George Floyd was murdered by a white cop months later, sparking summer protests nationwide ... but Arbery's case remains a big part of the movement ... as does Breonna Taylor's death. The Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown killings also prompted the early beginnings of the BLM cause. Lee Merritt, an attorney who has worked with the families of Arbery, Floyd and Taylor, tells TMZ ... "Justice isn't measured in murals -- it's measured in laws, accountability, and protecting Black lives." On that front, Merritt says ... "Accountability came when the men who murdered Ahmaud were sentenced to life. Reform came with the passage of the Ahmaud Arbery Hate Crimes Act. And policy change came when Georgia repealed the vigilante defense they used to justify their actions."
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Ahmaud Arbery murder 5 years later: Atlanta runners gather in his memory
The Brief Community members in Southwest Atlanta gathered to honor Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man murdered five years ago while jogging, in an incident later classified as a hate crime. The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation commemorated the anniversary with a two-mile run, emphasizing the need for reflection and continued change. Participants highlighted the importance of remembering Arbery's life and addressing safety concerns for runners, while the three men involved in his murder are serving life sentences. ATLANTA - In Southwest Atlanta, community members gathered to honor the memory of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was murdered while out on a run five years ago. The incident was later classified as a hate crime. What we know The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation marked the anniversary of his death on Feb. 23, 2020, by hosting a two-mile run, beginning at the Lee and White Complex. What they're saying Those who participated emphasized the importance of reflection on the tragedy, and the need for continued change. "This is a moment of reflection to let us know that no matter how much things have changed, there's more change necessary," said Edward Walton, the co-founder of Black Men Run. "We want to make sure that what happened to Ahmaud Arbery is not forgotten. We're here to celebrate his life." "It should never have happened, you know?" said participant Mark Monroe. "I've been running for over 15 years, and I run state to state. A lot of times, I run in different areas, and you don't feel safe." Dig deeper The three men involved in Arbery's death were found guilty of murder and are all currently serving life sentences. The Source FOX 5 Atlanta spoke to representatives from Black Men Run on the fifth anniversary of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Background information on the case was previously reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Annual ‘Run with Maud' held today on fifth anniversary of Ahmaud Arbery's death
People will be lacing up their shoes this afternoon to participate in a walk/run honoring the memory of Ahmaud Arbery. Today is the fifth anniversary of his death. Arbery was shot and killed while jogging in his South Georgia neighborhood. Runners will gather on Lee Street for the annual 'Run with Maud' race. Though five years have passed, civil rights leaders say the fight is far from over. As people pound the pavement on the west side of the BeltLine Trail, they'll be running with peace and purpose - something that was taken from Arbery in Brunswick in 2020. The annual 2.3-mile 'Run with Maud' begins at the Lee Street and White Trail entrance. Father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, along with their neighbor William Bryan, were convicted of Arbery's murder. All three are now asking for new trials. Civil rights leaders, including Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs will hold a national town hall today at 5 p.m. They'll discuss their next steps in the fight for justice. 'The fight is not over until the last appeals are denied and until every single person that is a part of the cover-up is held accountable – we will continue to push for 100% justice for Ahmaud,' Griggs said. The national town hall will be live-streamed on Transformative Justice Coalition's YouTube page. 'Race with Maud' will begin at 12:30 p.m. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: 'Armed and dangerous' shooting suspect could be in Atlanta Fulton deputies make drug bust after pulling over man for not wearing his seatbelt 'They've been fumbled too many times:' Atlanta's unhoused face warming center challenges [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
