Stop the Hate Take Action Against Racism Resource

 

UCC NATIONAL RESPONSE TO XENOPHOBIA AND RACISM
CHRISTIANS RESTORING RACIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!

Restorative racial justice means celebrating humanity’s rich cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds, traditions, and expressions of faith. Racial justice demands Christians actively, boldly, and without reservation participate in dismantling racism within systems and structures that oppress people, limit equal access, and denies children, women, and men their civil and human rights.

STOP THE HATE
TAKE A STAND AGAINST RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA

It is our responsibility to report hate crimes.

Tips for reporting hate, racism and xenophobia offenses

  • Report, show up, protect, speak out, and advocate for vulnerable
  • Identify and report perpetrators of hate crimes—racism and
  • Inform and train members within your congregations and communities how to intervene, speak out, and disrupt hate, racism, discrimination, sexism, ageism, homophobic and sexual orientation oppression, and the suppression of human and civil rights

TAKE ACTION NOW

Join with the National Officers of the UCC signing onto a letter denouncing false information that leads to xenophobia and racist actions taken around the country. While others respond with fear and hate, as Christians we are called to respond in love. We remember that the bible teaches us, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.”

Urge your elected Members of Congress to stop the spread of xenophobia and to condemn in strong language racist attacks. Ask them also to support a resolution intro introduced by Rep. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (NY) that calls on Congress to denounce anti-Asian sentiment in all forms, and for all elected officials to do the same. The resolution also calls for a coordinated Federal response to these hate crimes and to actively combat misinformation.

Contact the CDC to provide access to testing and eliminate bias
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/040720%20Letter%20to%20CDC%20RE%20covid%20d ata.pdf

“Love of neighbor is an essential aspect of Jesus’ theology. Love for neighbor is not optional, numerous scriptures provide Jesus’ theological premises that love for others is most clear and illuminates one’s love for God. When we violate love for our neighbors, we send a clear message to God that we do not love the Creator, Jesus and his teachings, and the Holy Spirit’s Pentecost message to be the Church are ignored.”

Native Americans Fight Multiple COVID-19 Crises
In addition to glaring health disparities, Tribe leaders report a new battle brewing against the federal government over reservation lands.
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/native-americans-fight-multiple-covid-19-crises

COVID-19 Creates Added Danger for Women in Homes With Domestic Violence DV advocates worry they will see an uptick in abuse the longer we socially isolate.
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/covid-19-creates-added-danger-women-homes-domestic-violence

COVID-19 Overt Racism Against Black Women

  • Virus erupts in U.S. cities where the poor have few defenses
    The coronoavirus pandemic is burrowing into America’s battered industrial heartland and the South, bursting out in places like Detroit and New Orleans that have legions of low-income residents with underlying medical conditions and few resources.
    Read in Bloomberg: https://apple.news/A8f4vdVGrT5yqyk2PD1sD-A

As people of faith, we are called to stand together to protect ourselves, and our sisters and brothers experiencing verbal and physical threats, and violence due to acts of racism and xenophobia.

Our role as Christians is to actively engage, address, disrupt, and dismantle structures and systems that perpetuate racism.

Racism has no place in our world. Racism must never be taught as a Biblical principle because God did not create superior people groups and cultures. Racism should never be tolerated in worship spaces, preached from pulpits, allowed in communities, or supported by local, state, and national government leaders.

We affirm God’s creation. All people bear God’s image and likeness with equal status.

God desires all people be treated with dignity and respect, to live free, and move about the earth without borders, walls, and threats of separation and annihilation.

The United Church of Christ Coronavirus-19 Resources
UCC COVID-19 Resources

Be Informed and Stop Racism and Xenophobia Resources
List of incidents of xenophobia and racism related to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_incidents_of_xenophobia_and_racism_related_to_the_2019%E2%8 0%9320_coronavirus_pandemic

Why Disease and Xenophobia Go Hand in Hand: The increasing speed of international travel enabled epidemics to spread, and made it easier to irrationally blame foreign groups.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-28/why-disease-and-xenophobia-go-hand-in-hand

Asian Americans Report Increase in Racism, Xenophobia During Coronavirus Pandemic
https://www.insideedition.com/asian-americans-report-increase-in-racism-xenophobia-during- coronavirus-pandemic-58790
UCC Responds to Cornovirus

Column: ‘It’s just too much’: Asian Americans confront xenophobia, economic devastation and the coronavirus
https://news.yahoo.com/just-too-much-asian-americans-100045298.html

Surging anti-Asian hate crimes being tracked during coronavirus pandemic: “Things are getting very physical”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-pandemic-anti-asian-hate-crimes-tracking/

Stand Against Hate – Asian/Asian American Stories
https://www.standagainsthatred.org/stories

Hate Magnified Report
https://hatemagnified.org/ https://hatemagnified.org/CAH-hatemagnified2019.pdf

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

“We have to join together to fight this virus effectively. Now is not the time to be torn apart by hatred”

Many Americans won’t get coronavirus checks. Here’s a look at who is ineligible.
The list of those left out includes most college kids, immigrants without Social Security numbers and some disabled adults.
Read in NBC News: https://apple.news/A1vJCnPymR8qpCFTMuqmxPw

How The COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes America’s Discriminatory Health And Food Provision Systems Food security is often treated as a niche issue, an individual concern or a matter for charity.
https://blavity.com/how-the-pandemic-exposes-americas-discriminatory-health-and-food-provision- systems?category1=opinion

Xenophobia ‘Is A Pre-Existing Condition.’ How Harmful Stereotypes and Racism are Spreading Around the Coronavirus
https://time.com/5775716/xenophobia-racism-stereotypes-coronavirus/

“Enacting trauma on our neighbors has a social cost. Violating our neighbors with hate messages, racism, and white supremacy, sexual assault and violence, and domestic terrorism are violations against God.

Individuals who believe in and support anti-black, Latinx, Native American, and LGBTQ agendas cannot claim Christianity as their faith and Jesus Christ as their Savior. How long Lord will we traumatize our neighbors?”

Millions in US at risk of ‘water shutoffs’ amid layoffs triggered by pandemic
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/06/millions-us-at-risk-losing-running-water-amid- layoffs-triggered-coronavirus-pandemic?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

As Coronavirus Spreads, So Does Xenophobia and Anti-Asian Racism
https://time.com/5797836/coronavirus-racism-stereotypes-attacks/

The Science Of Why Coronavirus Exposes Racism And Xenophobia
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2020/02/28/the-science-of-why-coronavirus-exposes- racism-and-xenophobia/#34c16f1b3695

The Other Problematic Outbreak: As the coronavirus spreads across the globe, so too does racism.
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-covid19-xenophobia- racism/607816/

As The Corona Virus Spreads, So Does Racism: Both Against and Within Asian Communities
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahkim/2020/01/30/coronavirus-racism-asian- communities/#51a8319e2865

Coronavirus Compounds Inequality and Endangers Communities of Color
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2020/03/27/482337/coronavirus-compounds- inequality-endangers-communities-color/

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Taking COVID- 19 Action Resources
http://sdpconference.info/sdpc-resources-for-coronavirus/

Let us arm ourselves with the information we need to share with our churches and our communities, realizing and actualizing the reality that we, with faith in action and sound judgment, along with the “God of our weary years [and the] God of our silent tears … who has brought us thus far on the way”, is now and always has been our first line of defense and protection. Let us go forth as a people of faith and a community of faith “engaging the powers” for our health, healing and wholeness.
Ubuntu! We are because you are! (Rev. Dr. Janaé Moore)

For the most trusted and up to date information, visit The World Health Organization or The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RACIAL JUSTICE MINISTRIES

The United Church of Christ Racial Justice Ministries develops and provides resources for congregations to acquire knowledge and skills in intersectional racial justice advocacy. Christians are invited to:

  • Educate others to speak up when people are assaulted verbally and physically
  • Advocate for and with historically oppressed and underrepresented communities
  • Strategize and organize to eradicate hate speech and shut down white nationalism threats
  • Engage in direct nonviolent social actions to correct and eliminate racist policies and behaviors
  • Respond and assist families experiencing terrorism and militarized police violence
  • Learn and teach from culture-centered biblical and theological resources
  • Develop meaningful relationships across interfaith and ecumenical traditions
  • Restructure capitalism and create more equitable systems of economic access and sustainability
  • Resist patriarchy at all cost and create models of equitable leadership across all gender identities
  • Eradicate constructed race categories within the Christian Church and society
  • Dismantle economic systems of inequality
  • Restore God’s human family—equally valuing all identities and people groups

Do not cause your neighbors harm. When you encounter your neighbors do not assault, insult, dehumanize, stereotype, and/or make accusations—verbal and/or physical. Our neighbors may represent or originate from other countries or continents, they may speak multiple languages, and worship God differently, but we are to treat our neighbors with respect and compassion. Love them as you love yourselves. Remember we are living on land that belonged to an ancient and proud people, Native North American Tribes. Respect the land, and respect and love your neighbors.
I am the Lord your God” Leviticus Remix 19:33, 34

For more information contact

  • Dr. Velda Love, Minister for Racial Justice Lovev@ucc.org
  • Roberto Ochoa, Div., Associate for Congregations of Color/Ethnic Identified Congregations Faith INFO (Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation) Ochoar@ucc.org
  • Noel Andersen, Immigration Rights Advocate Andersenn@ucc.org