March 23, 2021

An Open Letter to All:

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 Church

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