Leadership of Sacramento Presbytery and Stockton Presbytery issued a letter denouncing the rising mistreatment of Asian Americans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people in the U.S. continue to place blame for the virus on those of Asian descent—another example of racial discrimination that is too prevalent in communities today. Bethany’s own Rev. Janice Kamikawa assisted in drafting the letter. You can read this very important letter here.
1,000 origami cranes (right) were placed on the memorial site at Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Plaza.
The origami crane—tsuru—symbolizes hope, compassion, healing and peace. On June 4th a group of us came together as 1,000 tsuru—from Tsuru for Solidarity and Florin Japanese American Citizens League—were brought to the César E. Chávez Memorial Plaza in memory and honor of George Floyd and many Black lives tragically killed. Our hearts are broken, and we grieve. I join with others in crying out for justice and systemic changes and reforms, and for the future hope that everyone would be treated equally with dignity and respect. I hold in my heart that God is a God of justice and a God of mercy and hope.
—Rev. Janice Kamikawa.
““The church has an opportunity to be Jesus that confronts the dangerous virus of racism by creating a ‘social distancing’ of such behavior … Racist behaviors spread if nothing is done to stop them. The church can isolate such hatred by speaking against it clearly, unwaveringly and continuously. If we remain silent, we condone it. It we cease to call it wrong, then we normalize it.””