Almost a year ago, our church issued this statement addressing the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the nation. In the past year, violence against Asian Americans and the Pacific Island community has become an everyday event. Yet the media, and certain elected officials, continue to downplay the role of racism in these crimes, even as we hear the news from Atlanta of the mass shooting at three spas in Georgia. Of the eight people killed, seven were women and six were Asian-American women. The media has denied the role of racism in these heinous acts and perpetuates the violence directed at the Asian American and Pacific Island community. 

Hate crimes affect the most vulnerable people in our society: women, people of color, immigrants, the elderly, undocumented people, gender and sexual minorities, and low-wage and other marginalized workers. Our faith compels us to compassion and solidarity with the suffering of all humankind.

Yet we know that not all churches teach this compassion and solidarity. We lament the racism and sexism that distorts the preaching of the gospel. We mourn for those who have lost their lives at the hands of Christian racism and misogyny. And we call on all churches and all Christians, especially leaders, to reject the degradation of the gospel and the corruption of the Word of God by those who wish to baptize violence and hatred in the name of Jesus. Our community of faith is crying “Enough!” Who will listen?

We invite you to join us in naming and repenting of the sin of xenophobia, sexism, and white supremacy. We call on churches to designate a worship service in the month of May, since this is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and to form partnerships with local community organizations to address injustices facing Asian-American and Pacific Islanders.  And we are inviting all people of faith to call upon their denominational leadership to make anti-racism mandatory training for all clergy.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Pamela Anderson, Interim Minister, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Christine Umeda, Clerk of Session, Parkview Presbyterian Churchs
Veronica Gould, M.Div. Pastoral Resident, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Carla Hart, Ruling Elder, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Pattie Hashimoto, Ruling Elder, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Donna Toyama, Ruling Elder, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Irene Uno, Ruling Elder, Parkview Presbyterian Church
William Yee, Ruling Elder, Parkview Presbyterian Church
May Lee, Ruling Elder, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Carol Sakai, Ruling Elder, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Kris Sazaki, Office Manager, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Clifford W. Shockney, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Sherri Yee, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Victor Yee, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Lynn Yamamoto, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Hach Yasumura, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Linda Yasumura, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Julie Howe, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Richard Howe, Parkview Presbyterian Church
John Seno, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Hannah Seno, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Kishwer Vikaas, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Jerome Pryor, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Doug Judson, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Betsy Eskridge, Treasurer, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Leah Kanegawa, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Brian Kanegawa, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Yvonne Fong, Parkview Presbyterian Church
Eddie Fong, Parkview Presbyterian Church

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