Ahmaud Arbery shot by white supremacists while on a run, Georgia – deceased
Sarmistha Sen attacked while on a run, Texas – deceased
Wendy Martinez stabbed while on a run, Washington, DC – deceased
At its best, running is freedom. But more recently, it’s rare for me to feel that while running, because running should’ve been freedom for Jordan, Ahmaud, Sarmistha, and Wendy. Related Story
As a female runner, I cannot relax too much and lower my radar. I am also Lakota, a woman of color. I cannot run forward without looking over my shoulder. Like my relatives above (as we believe we are all related), and the long list of others like them, I run at a risk.
Dec. 31, 2020
Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel, a distance runner from South Dakota, wanted to do more to help the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Movement, so she made it part of her running experience and featured it on her social media. (Photo courtesy Devin Whetstone)
PHOENIX – The sight can be jarring: As a runner’s graceful stride brings her closer, her face comes into focus.
A rich, red handprint covers her mouth.
We will not be silenced.
The painted hand has become a powerful symbol for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Movement, known as MMIW, a cause boosted by the increasing number of athletes embracing it.