Washington Post Opinion: The Arbery case is heinous, but his killers' sentences are extreme

[Coventina]

60. I'll attempt to answer that question

Life sentences, at the very minimum, prevent the perpetrator from further murders (at least in the general population).

Multiple life sentences show the society's attitude toward the crime committed. This was not a crime of accident, negligence, or passion. This was an act of violence that was staged against a victim who represented a subset of the citizenry.
It was done with intent to enact violence against the entirety of that group of citizens, and to send the message that those citizens are not allowed to live their lives in safety - EVER.

This sentence sends the message that as a society, we do not tolerate such actions. It may not deter others from acting in that hateful way, but it is important that WE THE PEOPLE express our collective condemnation of such acts.