Coming from many faith traditions, Multifaith Voices of Peace & Justice’s Steering Committee offers this Statement of Solidarity and Call to Action.
Our neighbors who are Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) are often targets of racist taunts and violence. While these expressions of hate are not new – California has a long history of anti-Asian racism – over the last year these attacks have increased in frequency, vitriol, and violence.
For the Christians among us, there is particular need to acknowledge that the murders in the Atlanta area on March 16, 2021 emerged from a distortion of Christian theology which promotes unhealthy sexuality, white supremacy, misogyny, and stereotypes of Asian women.
As people of diverse religious and spiritual traditions, we unite in prayer for the families of the eight people who were murdered, including six Asian women. And we unite in prayer for the Asian American victims of hate crimes in our own area, those whose pain and trauma is too often ignored or cast aside.
Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice calls on all people of faith to confront the roots of racism, misogyny, and xenophobia in our midst, and within ourselves, so that we might find new ways to work together to build Beloved Community.
An important TRAINING for you to consider:
You can attend a free, one-hour on-line Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment Workshop presented by Hollaback! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ). Registration required. Workshops scheduled for several different times throughout April.
AND learn more about SURJ (Standing Up for Racial Justice) in the South Bay and beyond visiting the SURJ at Sacred Heart website.
Some helpful articles that SURJ identifies:
Vox: "The history of tensions - and solidarity - between Black and Asian American communities - explained" by Jerusalem Demsas and Rachel Ramirez, March 16, 2021.
the Salt Collective: "Asian Fetishization IS white supremacy" by Irene Cho
Vox: "The Atlanta shootings can't be divorced from racism and misogyny" by Li Zhou, updated March 18, 2021
STORIES:
The Asian Americans Aliance for Justice has a powerful collection of personal stories of discrimination, hate and violence. While difficult to read, it is imperative that we hear the concrete experiences of our Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander neighbors. Click here to read "Tell Your Story. Help Us Track Hate."
Many other local civic, humanitarian and faith-based organizations have issued powerful statements and calls to action as well. We will add these as they are gathered.