Asian and Black American Christian leaders, activists, and community members gathered in New York City’s Chinatown for a “Walk of Faith”, an action meant to show solidarity for both communities amidst ongoing anti-Asian violence, according to Chinatown’s website.
The idea for the walk was initiated by Black religious figures in Brooklyn, including members of the 67th Clergy Council. The so-called “God Squad” reached out to Asian American clergy, reports The Gothamist.
Pastor Ray Low of the New York Coalition of AAPI Churches told The Gothamist, “Historically, we’ve seen Black folks show up for us.” He found the Black clergy’s outreach “healing and honoring.”
22 organizations were involved in the walk. “We do have support,” said Low. “And that’s a powerful thing. And when that happens, people begin to listen as well.”
The event had particularly religious moments, including multiple prayers along the route at key landmarks. One photo shared by The Gothamist shows one demonstrator’s sign had the Bible quote, “He is our peace who has made the two into one and has destroyed the wall of hostility.”
Afterwards, demonstrators “broke bread” with Asian cuisine.
The Gothamist cites Stop AAPI Hate’s record of 10,905 hate incidents against AAPIs between March 2020 and the end of 2021. The New York Police Department has announced that hate crimes against Asian New Yorkers rose 361% in 2021 compared to 2020. This walk was inspired by the wave of anti-Asian hate and comes in the wake of several attacks on Asian New Yorkers, including Christina Yuna Lee and Michelle Go. These incidents have sometimes included Black suspects, so the show of solidarity worked to lessen tensions between Black and Asian communities.
Reverend Bernadette Lewis of the Brooklyn Zion House of Prayer told The Gothamist, “We may look differently–our skin may differ, our looks may differ–but we all hurt.”
She noted that increasing resources for those with mental health issues will decrease violence in the communities. In the meantime, walks like this one, in which Black and Asian leaders of the city push back against the prevailing narrative of animosity between the two communities, will increase unity.
“The Asian American community is very vulnerable. And so this helps to spread this message of love and solidarity, and that we are a part of the solution as well,” said Pastor Edward-Richard Hinds of the 67th Precinct Clergy Council, according to The Root. “And we will stand with them.”
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