Target: Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia
Goal: Thank Georgia’s governor for signing an important hate crimes bill.
On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old man, was shot and killed while he was running a few blocks away from his house. He was murdered by Travis and Gregory McMichael, who chased him down with a truck, followed closely by William “Roddie” Bryan in a second vehicle. It took almost three months for these men to be arrested.
A video of the shooting recorded by Bryan was released in early May. The video quickly went viral and sparked national outrage. Petitions, such as this one, surfaced demanding justice for Ahmaud Arbery. It was shortly after that, 74 days after Arbery’s murder, that the McMichaels’ were finally arrested.
Now, four months later, the Governor of Georgia just signed House Bill 426, which increases the penalties associated with crimes that are motivated by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, and the like. This bill has failed to pass for the last three years. Before it passed, Georgia was one of only four states in America without a Hate Crime Bill. The passing of this bill signals a significant victory for civil rights in Georgia and should be celebrated as such. Sign this petition thanking Governor Brian Kemp for signing Georgia’s new hate crime bill and protecting the safety of thousands of Georgians.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Governor Kemp,
Georgia has been in the national spotlight since the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020. Before Georgia House Bill 426 passed, Georgia was one of only four states in the United States without a hate crime bill. This oversight in the laws of this state contributed to the horribly drawn-out nature of the Amaud Arbery case.
In light of all that has happened this year, the Georgia Hate Crime Bill is a significant and necessary win for human rights. It is only when the most vulnerable people in our society are protected, that we can truly say we live in a free country. Passing this bill ensures that every citizen in Georgia can live with less fear, knowing their lives are valued and protected by the people who make and uphold our laws.
Thank you for ensuring that people in Georgia can run in their neighborhoods without the fear of being shot and killed simply for the color of their skin.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Ken Lund
On the public video and news details of the incident I see what is videoed and described as Ahmaud Arbery going into a private construction site. I see Ahmaud Arbery running away when he was discovered by the neighbor who was calling police and further down the video I see a struggle between Ahmaud Arbery and a man with a gun, later described as one of the McMichae. An unfortunate complicated scenario.