John,

Today marks two years since Ahmaud Arbery was murdered while out for a run in Georgia.

I’m a runner, too – I’ve been running my whole life. John, I know the visceral fear that comes with running while Black in America: It means being keenly aware of the spaces that I’m in and how people will view my Black body running in the street. It means worrying about my safety for more reasons than sprained ankles or cars. I have even asked a white friend to protect me by biking next to me as I trained for a marathon, so that I knew I was safe to simply run.

Being Black in the United States means not being able to go for a run without the danger of being shot. This is a violation to the ideals of our country, John: We cannot call ourselves the land of the free when Ahmaud Arbery was murdered while enjoying the freedom of jogging, and while so many more fear for their lives. Now, one year after his death, we must recommit ourselves to fighting the systemic failings of our country — including our broken gun laws.

For two years since Arbery’s murder, lawmakers have failed to end racist Stand Your Ground laws – in fact they have passed more of them. The influence of the NRA has helped at least 24 states to pass some form of Stand Your Ground laws. In any given month, approximately 30 to 50 people across the country are killed as a result of stand your ground laws. And if the shooter is white, like the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, the shooting is more likely to be deemed justified.

Stand Your Ground laws encourage reckless gun owners to shoot first, ask questions later — and then claim self-defense. When combined with our country’s weak gun laws and systemic racism, Stand Your Ground laws increase, rather than decrease, gun crime.

Today, I'm carefully reflecting on the hateful memory that this day holds, while honoring Arbery's life by fighting to end racist Stand Your Ground laws and other heinous gun laws that threaten the lives of Black men and women every day. Thank you for observing this day with me and for your commitment to this fight every day.