Statement on Violence Against AAPI, from Sunday Morning, 3/21

Pearl Church stands with all Asian American and Pacific Island people as we collectively grieve the violent events–not only of this past week, but of past months, years, decades, and generations.

We want to name white supremacy and patriarchy, and the specific ways those forms of power get taught and normalized in Christian traditions. It is not okay and it is all around us.

To be clear, the recent violence is not an isolated act. Over 3800 acts of anti-Asian hate in the US have occurred since COVID began, including over 800 acts of violence toward the AAPI community in California alone during the first 3 months of COVID.

"Intersectionality" is when social identities like race and gender overlap to create unique forms of discrimination. We want to specifically lift up Asian women in this moment, as this impacts them in multiple ways. All women may relate to the misogyny in this violence. All members of the AAPI community may relate to the racism in this violence. But Asian women are processing the effects of both types of community trauma.

We want to call out Christian purity culture and its undeniable connection to the misogyny and racism that played a large role in Robert Aaron Long’s life, which prevented him from seeking consequential help beyond the tools of religious violence–shame and blame. 

Lastly, we want to say that women working in the sex industry adds another layer to the recent violence. Women who work in the sex industry have a 45-75% chance of experiencing sexual violence and they have some of the highest homicide rates among women. Women–children of God, with hopes, dreams, and precious lives, desperately need our attention and care.