A state lawmaker this week wrote a powerful letter in response to the recent massacre that took place at a black South Carolina church — one he feels “every white person” should also write.

After news broke on Wednesday night that a white gunman had walked into a historic black church in Charleston, state Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, drove to a Denver church in the middle of the night and taped a hand-written letter to the front door.Shorter Community A.M.E. (African-American Episcopal) Church is an affiliate of Charleston’s Emanuel Church, where the violence occurred.

“On a night when old, devastating patterns of racial injustice return like childhood nightmares, it seemed the best thing to do was to get out of my bed and drive over here to make sure this note was the first thing you saw when you walked in the church tomorrow,” reads the letter, which Johnston transcribed on his Facebook account.

“This white man is driving over to this AME church to tell you how deeply grateful I am that the leaders of your church have helped build this city, and how honored I am that the ancestors of this church have helped build this great country.”

Authorities have arrested a suspect, Dylann Storm Roof, 21. And they say the shootings were racially motivated.

Johnston wanted the church to know that he stands with them at this time of tragedy. “I refuse to let one deranged man speak for me, and I also refuse to stay silent after his abomination.”

Johnston wrote that he stands “with millions of white men who are proud to call you brothers and sisters, and who feel compelled now to right the wrongs of generations past…”

In his Facebook post, Johnston explained why he thinks “every white person should do the same,” which is to “make a small, but powerful statement that today we all stand together.”

Rev. Timothy E. Tyler said he saw the letter posted to the door when opened the church the next morning.

“I was just pleased and surprised,” he said. “It meant a lot. First of all that it was handwritten — and Sen. Johnston’s handwriting is worse than mine — but just the fact that he took the time to write it.”

Tyler said church members were “numb” and “walking around in a daze” on the heels of the violence, making Johnston’s letter was that much more meaningful.

“It was part of our family,” the reverend said. “I really appreciate that he took the time. In the note, he challenged the community to come together and dispel the hatred.”

“If Sen. Johnston runs for president, I will support him,” he added

— Twitter: @VicVela1