Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, is revealing details about her meeting with President Donald Trump.
Prior to signing the executive order on police reform on Tuesday, Trump met with the families of several black victims at the center of high-profile, racially-charged killings that have resulted in nationwide protests.
During an interview with Fox News on Tuesday evening, Cooper described the president as “very compassionate” saying her meeting with Trump was “very emotional.”
“I was very, very emotional throughout the whole conference,” Cooper-Jones said. “[Trump] was very compassionate.”
See Cooper-Jones’ remarks below:
She also revealed the president showed “major concern” for all of the families.
“He shows major concerns for all families, not just one family but for all families,” Cooper-Jones said, adding, “I can say that President Trump was very receiving. He listened and he addressed each and every family accordingly.”
Cooper-Jones’ remarks come as protesters around the world continue to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
On February 23, Arbery was killed in Brunswick, Georgia, while out jogging. Two men were arrested in April nearly two months after his death due to the heightened controversy surrounding the footage of his murder.
Arbery’s killing is one of several high-profile cases that have contributed to the heightened scrutiny of law enforcement agencies. Calls for police reform intensified after footage of George Floyd having his neck pinned on by a police officer’s knee went viral. Floyd died in police custody.
Although Arbery was not killed by police, his death appears to be racially motivated. The slow arrests of the two white men were charged with murder and aggravated assault. Protesters are seeking justice and accountability for his death.
Cooper-Jones believes Trump’s executive order for police reform is a step in the right direction. However, she also admits that she does not think it is enough.
When Ahmaud Arbery’s mom, Wanda Cooper-Jones, was asked about the executive order that @realdonaldtrump signed today she said she didn’t think that it was enough “but I do think that it's a start.” per @psmolinskiCBS https://t.co/pZRPb2uSat
— Fin Gómez (@finnygo) June 16, 2020
In response to the criticism over her meeting with the president, Cooper-Jones admitted that she wanted to be heard.
“I wanted him to hear my voice,” she said.
