On Tuesday May 5, 2020 the All Saints Church Racial Justice Advisory Board (RJAB) made a recommendation that the vestry adopt a statement of solidarity in support of Asian and Pacific Islander communities facing COVID-19 related bias and discrimination. The statement was unanimously passed by the vestry on that same night and is posted below
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our
hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our
struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All Saints Church Stands in Solidary with Asian Communities
In this time of COVID-19, there has been a significant increase in anti-Asian bias, xenophobia, racism, and, violence on a global scale. This includes the language used to describe the virus and perceptions about the illness.
All Saints Church stands in solidarity with Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities. We support the continued destigmatization of COVID-19. We believe that as physical healing and recovery begin, it is crucial for our spiritual health that we recognize and address language and incidents reflecting xenophobia, and racial and ethnic bias. Racial and ethnic bias continues to be a systemic and persistent societal problem that requires intervention at both individual and institutional levels.
For more information and resources on supporting Asian communities, please see the links below … including The Asian American Christian Collaborative invitation to read their statement and sign it in solidarity.
• Asian American Christian Collaborative
https://asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com/covid19statement
• American Psychological Association Fact Sheet
https://www.apa.org/news/press/statements/combating-covid-19-bias.pdf
• American Psychological Association
APA Calls for Destigmatizing Coronavirus
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/03/destigmatizing-coronavirus
• Center for Public Integrity
Survey on COVID-related Bias Against Asians
https://publicintegrity.org/health/coronavirus-and-inequality/survey-majority-of-asian-americans-have-witnessed-covid-19-bias/
• Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council
https://www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/stop-aapi-hate/
• Center for Asian American Media
Digital Town Hall: Asian-Americans in the Time of COVID-19
https://www.facebook.com/CAAMedia/videos/636404333882915/
• Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles: Asian-American Ministry Resources
https://diocesela.org/multicultural-ministries/
=====
We also commend this Episcopal News Service feature by Pat McCaughan:
Episcopal Asian Pacific Americans call out racially charged insults, violent threats due to COVID-19
