}

The senseless and tragic killing of Ahmaud Arbery calls for more than condolences and condemnations from our lawmakers. The moment calls for swift and decisive action. As Georgia faith leaders, we hold sacred the moral principles of love for our neighbors and the equality of all humankind. We call on the Georgia General Assembly to unanimously pass the Georgia Enhanced Penalties for Hate Crimes Act, HB 426. Passing this legislation will ensure that those who carry out violence in the name of bigotry are held accountable.

Georgia is one of only four states in the U.S. that does not have a hate crimes prevention law.

Hate crimes terrorize not only our streets, but also our congregations. Recent hateful attacks against places of worship from Gainesville to Columbus are painful to our congregants and alarming for our communities. We fear all forms of hate crime will become more widespread if we do not act now. 

We can no longer ignore this violence and its harmful effects on our state. Even lawmakers’ most righteous words are no substitute for action in the fight against the sickness of white supremacy and the sinful practice of racial profiling. As faith leaders, we will do everything in our power to ensure that all Georgians can jog in our streets, pray in our congregations and exercise their rights in our communities without fear of being hunted down by bigotry. 

Our elected officials must do the same by voting “yes” on HB 426. Bigotry will not leave of its own accord. We must unite morally to drive it out. In this spirit, we are united against all forms of hatred and bigotry -- and the violence these evils engender.