Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of slain jogger Ahmaud Arbery, has called out people using her son’s name for non-profits and trademarks.
Cooper-Jones, said she had not endorsed an organization called the 2:23 Foundation, who started a, “I Run With Maud” Labor Day campaign.
“This foundation did not have my blessings,” Cooper-Jones said, according to Newsweek.
“The ideas for the foundation likely started after national attention began to spread due to our advocacy efforts,” Cooper-Jones wrote. “Within seven days of the foundation’s launch, its organizers had already planned a large fundraiser.
“The I RUN FOR MAUD committee (all five members who I do not know well),” she continued, “have known for months I did not want my child’s death to be exploited or used for monetary gain for anyone. I was disrespected and ignored.”
Arbery was jogging in February when he was confronted by Gregory and Travis McMichael. He was fatally shot during the encounter. It took two months for the local authorities to arrest and charge his killers.
The foundation responded, claiming that they have tried to reach out to her in an attempt to resolve the matter privately.
“We have attempted countless times to reach out to [Cooper-Jones] and counsel to discuss this privately,” the post said.
“Our intention from the beginning was simple: Pursue justice for Ahmaud. Our team has not benefited financially from any of the work we have done to do just that. In fact, we have spent our own money to help pursue justice. And we have gotten the support from Maud’s family in the process.”
The statement adds, “Currently, we are not using Maud’s name or likeness in our organization. But pursuing justice for a person and for a community is something that Glynn County as a whole is committed to doing moving forward. We will continue to pursue #JusticeForAhmaud and pursue social justice advocacy and awareness for our community and across our state. Our movement has moved from a local one to one that could impact our entire state.”
