“Turning Ahmaud Arbery into a victim after the choices that he made does not reflect the reality of what brought Ahmaud Arbery to Satilla Shores in his khaki shorts with no socks to cover his long, dirty toenails.” —From the summation by Laura Hoge, lawyer for one of the three men convicted of murdering Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery.

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“Everyone in Georgia knows

How to wash between their toes.

There are cells in Georgia’s jails

For those who fail to clip their nails.

Georgia says no sir and no ma’am

To feet with uncut nails or toe jam.

Justice should be swift and sure

For those who lack a pedicure,

Or go out running in all sorts 

Of pants instead of nylon shorts.

My client didn’t want some tacky

Jogger wearing cut-off khaki

Running on his family’s street

With uncut nails on dirty feet.

If the sneaker doesn’t fit

The runner’s foot, you must acquit!”

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When the facts are on your side

Pound the facts. Or else elide

Inconvenient truths, or hide

That your client simply lied.

If all else fails, just be snide.