“If we’re going to start a precedent, starting yesterday, where we’re going to bring high-profile members of the African-American community into the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury, I believe that’s intimidating and it’s an attempt to pressure,” attorney Kevin Gough, who represents William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., told the court following a lunch break. “Could be consciously or unconsciously an attempt to pressure or influence the jury.”
In the majority White Glynn County, where the trial is taking place, race has played a central role in the case.
Sharpton said that while the country has seen some positive milestones for the Black community, such as electing former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris, “you still can’t jog through Brunswick, Georgia, without being shot down, like you are a suspect, only because of the color of your skin.”
Sharpton was also in the small courtroom on Wednesday.
The judge told Gough on Thursday that he was aware Sharpton would be inside, apparently taking the place of an Arbery family member, and that he did not have an objection as long as there were no disruptions.
Along with his comments on Thursday, Gough said he had “nothing personally against” Sharpton but added, “We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here or other Jesse Jackson, whoever was in here earlier this week, sitting with the victim’s family trying to influence a jury in this case.”
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has not been seen at the courthouse since the start of the trial.
“I think the court can understand my concern about bringing people in who really don’t have any ties to this case other than political interests and we want to keep politics out of this case,” Gough said.
In a statement, Sharpton called the attorney’s comments “arrogant insensitivity” which “underscores the disregard for the value of the human life lost and the grieving of a family in need spiritual and community support.”
“My attendance yesterday and in the days to come is not disruptive in any way and was at the invitation of the family of Ahmaud Arbery who have stated that publicly,” Sharpton said. “This objection was clearly pointed at me and a disregard to the fact that a mother father sitting in a courtroom with 3 men that murdered their son do not deserve the right to have someone present to give spiritual strength to bear this pain. This is pouring salt into their wounds.”
Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery’s mother, said, “I don’t think Gough is really up to do the right thing. So he’s, he’s willing to eliminate anything that’s right. So it doesn’t surprise me at all.”
“I think that if the jury takes the evidence that the state presents, that we will get justice for Ahmaud,” she said.
In response to Gough’s comments, Judge Walmsley said that he was not going “to blanketly exclude members of the public from this courtroom,” as long as everyone remains respectful of the court’s process and does not become a distraction inside the courtroom.
CNN has reached out to Jackson for comment regarding the attorney’s objection.
CNN’s Niah Humphrey, Pamela Kirkland and Delano Massey contributed to this report.
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