By Rev. Dr. Steve Bland, Jr., President of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity
The Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity, Inc. (Council) joins all persons of empathy and goodwill in extending our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the families of the Asian Americans who were senselessly murdered in Atlanta, GA on Tues., March 23, 2021. These vile and vicious acts of violence are yet another example of how domestic terrorism is spreading across our land.
Since the inception of the pandemic and prominent voices began to refer to it as the “China virus” and “Kung flu,” violence against the Asian-American Community has escalated. Recent statements made from Majority State Senator Mike Shirkey and others without apology have not helped but have actually inflamed this matter. From March 2020 to March 2021, hate crimes against the Asian-American Community have increased 150%. Over 3,000 incidents of violence against Asian-Americans have been recorded. There is a concern that law enforcement has been slow to investigate these crimes.
All of this fits into the larger picture of terrorist attacks against minority communities; attacks fueled by racism, nationalism and white supremacy. The Council believes that left unchecked, these acts of violence will only further divide us as a nation and destroy our attempt to build a democracy where there is “liberty and justice for all.”
We call on our national and state leaders to refrain from fanning the flames of these terrorist acts, to condemn these actions of hate in the harshest terms, and push to prosecute those who commit such violent crimes to the fullest extent of the law.
We urge all persons of goodwill to join us in praying for the soul of our nation. Hearts need to be changed. Laws can’t change a heart, but God can. May God bless, protect and prosper our Asian-American sisters and brothers. May God bless, protect and prosper us all, and grant us peace.
“We must stand up and vehemently denounce the hateful, visceral, and deadly actions that senselessly took the lives of our Asian-American sisters,” said Rev. Dr. James Perkins, Council Chairman, Social Justice Commission. “We call for justice in this case and any other racially motivated crime against Asian Americans and other people of color.”
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