We watched in sadness and horror as a young unarmed black man was gunned down while jogging in a local neighborhood in Brunswick. Our hearts are broken for Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, his family, and friends, and we are angered that he was targeted, harassed, and murdered. We are angered that justice was slow in coming.

We know that Georgia can be better than this. We must be better than this for our children’s sake. And we will continue to fight for a better future for all our neighbors. Black lives matter, and until we are all equal, until every one of us matters, we still have work to do.

This is why we are supporting the passage of Georgia HB 426 and urge our state senators to take up and pass the bill when the General Assembly reconvenes on June 15, 2020. Georgia is one of only four states that does not have a hate crime law on the books, and this is an important step in leading us toward a more equal Georgia.

We can’t do it alone. We encourage all Georgians to make their voices heard. Contact your state legislators and tell them how important it is that they stand strong on behalf of their constituents and support this bill. It has already passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the senate. It could be signed into law this year if we act now. Call or email your legislators’ offices and register your support for HB 426 with them.

If you are unsure whom your state senator and representative are, you can find them here. This site also includes a link to their office phone number and email address.