NBC News 10 reported on March 18 that Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among the states with the highest number of Anti-Asian violent crimes. According to “Stop Asian Americans Pacific Islander Hate” (AAPI), 68% of anti-Asian attacks were directed against women.
Over the past year, despite hate crimes being down for the
most part, anti-Asian attacks have become much more prevalent. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
physical assaults, verbal harassment, civil rights violations and online
harassment against Asian Americans had increased by 200%. Terms like “The China
virus” or Kung-flu” to describe COVID have had much to do with the current hate
violence.
What a terrible thing! What a tragic world! We mourn with
the people of Atlanta who have experienced thd senseless, evil mass shooting of
eight people, six of them Korean women, March 16. As United Methodists, “we deplore acts of
hate or violence against groups or person based on race, color, national
origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual
orientation, gender identity or religious affiliation.” (Social Principles, Paragraph 162)
As a nation, we need to teach and speak to one another about
tolerance and cultural respect, so that more people see our diversity as a
source of giftedness and not division or threat. In our churches, we need to
preach and model respect and inclusion at every level of congregational life. That
includes creating diversity and inclusiveness in funding and leadership
opportunities.
A practical thing that we can do every day is to speak up
when we hear racist remarks that denigrate any ethnic group or that characterize
people in negative and stereotypical ways.
Words can hurt, but words of truth can heal and create justice. Let us be creators of “justice and joy”* and
make a better world and a better church.
*From “For Everyone
Born, a Place at the Table” Worship and Song #3149)
Read “Conference
members join outcry against anti-Asian American racism.”
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