I’ve never tried running more than a few yards while pushing a stroller, but you know what else I have never done?

Tried running while being chased down, as I feared and fought for my life.

I’ve always been told that people fear what they do not know and do not understand. That does not mean that because of that, that anyone should take it upon themselves to take away the life of another.

I do not know Ahmaud Arbery, but neither did the men who took his life away from him. Took him away from the people who he loved, and loved him, most. Stole the opportunity for him to live his life.

There are so many things wrong about this. There are so many things wrong with the world that we live in, and that we keep seeing this happen time and time again.

I have never feared for my life because of the color of my skin. I’ve never feared for my life because another individual sees me, or someone who looks like me, as a threat. I know that is something that I should be, and am, extremely fortunate for.

I have feared for the lives of some of the most important people in my life. I have feared, and will continue to, for anyone who fits a certain profile, when seen by some, as threatening. I fear for anyone who is viewed as less or that their life is not as important or that they do not deserve equal or greater opportunities.

I’ll never understand, and I don’t want to, how someone could have so much hatred inside of them, especially towards a person they know nothing about. How does someone get to that point? And how can we make sure our youth never get to that point so that everyone can have a better future?

I have so much more that I still want to say, and feel that needs to be said. I wish I had an answer or a solution to make this stop. I pray that justice is served. I pray and hope that we find a way to stop seeing history repeat itself over and over again, and we stop seeing countless lives taken away.