John --

Every year since my son was murdered on Black Friday 2012, I try to spend as much time during the week of Thanksgiving with my family as I can. I try to take time to think about why I do this work and what drives me to keep fighting in Congress. I pray, reflect, grieve, and connect with all those in my life I am so thankful for. So this week, in between food and family, I spent time processing and reflecting.

Like many of you, I was also watching and waiting this week for the verdict in the trial of Ahmaud Arbery’s killers. When the verdict came out on Wednesday, I took a big breath, a deep sigh, and felt so much stress and built up tension leave my body. 

I can deeply empathize with Ahmaud’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, who sat weeping in the courtroom. It took me right back to the second trial of Jordan’s killer, waiting anxiously for the verdict, finally getting the conviction we wanted.

You see, John, no guilty verdict can bring back Ahmaud Arbery. No guilty verdict ever filled the Jordan-sized hole in my heart. 

People like to talk about “justice being served” after a verdict. But, a guilty verdict only brings some manner of justice. Yes, it’s infinitely better than not guilty. You want to see accountability for crimes that have been committed. But, true justice would be Ahmaud Arbery and my son Jordan Davis going about their daily lives today, still alive and well. 

John, I hope you’ve had some time to pause and reflect during this holiday weekend too. I know the holidays can be a hard time of the year for anyone who’s lost a loved one, myself included. 

Out of my own family’s tragedy, I have found purpose and a second career as a gun safety advocate and member of Congress. My path is one of many. Everybody grieves differently. 

Tonight, I’ll say another prayer for Ahmaud Arbery and his family. I will say a prayer for Jordan. Tomorrow, our fight for gun safety reform continues.

Onwards,

Lucy