Seeking Justice Amidst Grief & Mourning
A letter to the GAF community in response to this week's tragedy in Atlanta
Dear GAF community,
This week is one of grief and mourning, one that hits us personally as a community rooted in Chinatown, with folks among us that are Asian, women, queer, low-income. We cannot help but see ourselves, our friends, and community members in the faces of the Asian women who were murdered in Atlanta.
We want to take a moment to honor the lives of these women. These are mothers, daughters, wives, siblings, aunts, friends, co-workers that continue to be dearly loved by many, even in death. Their lives were beloved, precious, sacred, and beautiful. As we learn more about their stories in the coming days and weeks, we hope to uplift, center their stories, and cherish the vibrant lives that they lived.
As we have been processing and mourning in private, we feel an urgent need to write this letter—in part to remind ourselves of the important truths amid a “new” public consciousness that Asian communities experience violence and injustice, whether in America or transnationally.
We want to continue seeking justice and the kind of liberation that rolls down like a river. Western Christianity continues to cause incredible harm inside and outside the Church institution. Knowing that the mass murderer’s social media profile states he loves God while conducting these horrific acts of violence underscores that there is a disease within the Church—and we need change now. We denounce and say “no, this cannot be” to the sickness of white supremacy, racism, misogyny, Sinophobia, toxic purity culture, homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry within our families, our church, and our communities.
We commit to standing in solidarity and community beyond our Asian community. Our table has room to not only support our Asian siblings, but extends to include our Black, brown, Indigenous communities from all gender identities and expressions.
“We are not free until everyone is free.”
Finally, we want to acknowledge that this trauma is real. Whether you are responding in apathy, numbness, tears, rage, anger, frustration, or helplessness—your response is wholly valid. These latest events are shocking and unacceptable, even if they follow a long history of racism towards Asians in the United States. For many who have immigrant families or are migrants themselves, there are generational traumas in our bodies and spirit from being hated, discriminated against, and treated violently.
We are here for you, to cry with, process, vent, or just be in silence.
Let us care for one another.
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There will be more to process, and this is by no means a comprehensive letter. To our friends, allies, and even strangers reading this, we ask that you join us—not just in this current moment of crisis—but for the long haul. Let us be part of the liberation work that Jesus commissioned us to actively pursue. There are MANY ways to support, and we have shared a list of resources at the end of this letter. If you haven’t been part of anti-racist work until this moment, you can join now.
In closing, we want to leave you with a quote from Black theologian, James Cone: Jesus is not a human being for all persons; he is a human being for oppressed persons, whose identity is made known in and through their liberation (A Black Theology of Liberation).
Resource List
While this is by no means a comprehensive life, it is a starting place for those who desire to learn more, take action, or need resources.
LEARNING
Forefront Church: A Letter to My Church Family About the History of Anti-Asian Racism in America
Erna Kim Hackett: Purity Culture, white supremacy, and grief (Video)
NPR: 'Model Minority' Myth Again Used As A Racial Wedge Between Asians And Blacks
NBC News: Who Is Vincent Chin? The History and Relevance of a 1982 Killing
There is also a giant Google Doc put together by others if you want to dig in further – you can check it out here!
HEALING
Asian Mental Health Collective: Reduced Fee Therapy & Support for the Filipino/a/x & Asian Community
Inclusive Therapists: Letter to Asian Kin
Erina Kim-Eubanks: A Prayer for my AAPI Sisters: As We Face Increasing Violence
ACTION
Donate directly to victims’ families here (verified by GoFundMe)
Donate to the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – ATL fund set up for victims & their families
TIME Magazine: Donating, Volunteering, Reporting Hate Incidents: Here’s How to Help Combat Anti-Asian Violence