For Lions cornerback Justin Coleman, the protest movement against police brutality and racism have a deeply personal connection. Coleman was a high school teammate of Ahmaud Arbery, the African-American man killed by two white men while jogging in Georgia.
In a teleconference call with Detroit reporters on Wednesday, Coleman talked about his relationship with Arbery and how well he knew the murdered man and his family.
“Ahmaud actually was one of my younger brother’s best friends and just to watch him dealing with the situation brings pain to me and I’m just – obviously, everyone wanted justice for the situation because it was just a wrongdoing and I’m just not sure how we can … create a change.”
Coleman is both surprised and inspired by the reaction to the death of his friend. Arbery was one year behind Coleman at Brunswick High School.
“I was just thinking in my head like, dang, your purpose basically was to start this movement and try to change the world ’cause now your life does have a purpose,” Coleman said. “His name is being continuously talked about every single day now.”
Coleman and Lions safety Tracy Walker, another Brunswick-area native who has referred to Arbery as his cousin, are working to help spread the word amongst Lions players. It’s something that has had an impact, notably on center Frank Ragnow.
“We just want to open up eyes and help educate people on what’s going on,” Coleman said. “What’s really happening in this world, because we want it to be a better place.”