Christians across the nation are standing up on behalf of Asian Americans in light of a recent increase in hate crimes.
As reported by Religion News Service, on Sunday, an estimated 5,000 people gathered for The National Rally for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Lives and Dignity. Rallies, organized by the Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC), were held in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Ellicott City, Maryland, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, a virtual event was hosted in Seattle.
In 2020, the AACC was created as a response to the rise in anti-Asian attacks.
As Christian Headlines previously reported, anti-Asian hate crimes jumped by almost 150 percent last year, in large part because the novel coronavirus came from Wuhan, China.
Sunday's event focused on the recent shooting across three spas in Atlanta, Georgia, as a gunman killed eight people, six of which were Asian women. The gunman claimed that he targeted the spas because they perpetuated his sexual temptation.
At the Atlanta rally, AACC Vice President Michelle Ami Reyes stated that the Atlanta shooting was a racialized act in light of a long string of hate crimes against Asians.
"We can't work together toward a more just and equitable future if we don't see or understand this full history," she contended. "Understanding the full breadth of the Asian American experience in this country is the method by which we grieve and lament well today."
AACC also partnered with local churches and organizations, including Be the Bridge and the AND Campaign.
Last year, the group hosted its first rally following Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd's deaths. One thousand people from over 100 churches reportedly gathered in Chicago for the rally.
Justin Giboney, president of the AND Campaign, a Christian social justice coalition, told Religion News Service that the Black community must express their support for the Asian community and say, "Hey, we're with you, and when given the opportunity to stand up for you, we will."
Related:
Hate Crimes against Asian Americans Jumped Nearly 150 Percent in 2020
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Mario Tama/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
