Anti-Asian violence and the Vincent Chin sentencing

Vol. 96, No. 19, May 20, 1983. 8 pages. View this issue

The front page was given over to anti-Asian violence. Judge Charles Kaufman’s probation sentences for Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz in the death of Vincent Chin drew criticism, more than 500 people marched in Detroit, and the FBI began looking into possible federal civil rights charges. The same page reported the stabbing death of Vietnamese student Thong Hy Huynh at Davis High School, and racist leaflets handed out on the day of his funeral. JACL National President Floyd Shimomura wrote about the pattern in his column on page 5.

On page 3, about 200 people attended the 14th annual Manzanar pilgrimage despite rain and wind, and the Manzanar Committee announced a new edition of The Lost Years. A Topaz High School reunion was also announced. Redress news ran on pages 4 and 6, including a California Senate resolution and the Pacific Southwest District’s pledge report. Ron Wakabayashi’s column marked the departure of editor Peter Imamura.

What’s in this issue

National

• Controversial Judge in Chin Case Was Former POW of Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Judge Charles Kaufman, who sentenced Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz to probation and fines for the manslaughter of Vincent Chin, faced criticism from Asian American groups who believed his wartime experience as a Japanese POW influenced his lenient sentencing. Kaufman denied the allegation, stating his captivity did not affect his feelings toward any group, while the FBI began investigating whether federal civil rights charges could be brought against the defendants.
• Vietnamese Student Killed in Racially-Sparked Fight, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 17-year-old Vietnamese student, Thong Hy Huynh, was stabbed to death at Davis High School following weeks of racist taunting from white students, and a 17-year-old classmate was arrested on homicide charges. Witnesses described an escalating pattern of harassment that culminated in a brawl where the suspect produced a knife and fatally stabbed Huynh.
• Over 500 March in Streets of Detroit Protesting Chin Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. More than 500 demonstrators marched through downtown Detroit demanding stiffer penalties for Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz, who received probation for killing Vincent Chin. The American Citizens for Justice-organized rally included speeches and letters demanding imprisonment, with eyewitnesses claiming the altercation began with anti-Japanese remarks about the auto industry.
• Racist Cartoon Stirs Anger Among Ethnic Rights Groups, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An editorial cartoon by Steve Benson published in The Daily Review depicted racial stereotypes including a Japanese American receiving a $24 billion reparations payment, mocking the NCJAR redress lawsuit. The cartoon drew angry letters from civil rights and educational organizations condemning it as racist and damaging.
• Racist Leaflets Passed Out at Slain Student’s School, by P.C. Staff, page 1. On the morning of Thong Hy Huynh’s funeral, unidentified individuals distributed leaflets from a group called the ‘White Student Union’ at Davis High School, decrying non-white immigration and soliciting membership. The group’s founder praised the accused killer as ‘an inspiration to white students everywhere’ while blaming politicians for allowing immigration.
• Asian Student Shot on Way to School, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 10-year-old Cambodian American student, Chansophea Nhim, was shot in the shoulder while walking to school in Houston. Police speculated she may have been hit by a stray bullet, and no arrests have been made.
• Judge Criticized for Freeing Rapist Reverses His Decision, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Judge Richard Ishikawa reversed his decision to release convicted rapist Joe Burns Jr. on bail after new evidence was presented showing Burns posed a threat to the victim and community. The reversal came after public outcry and criticism from women’s rights groups following his initial release decision.
• Nikkei Gambler Gets Probation Sentence, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Ken Eto, a longtime Chicago gambling boss who began cooperating with federal authorities after surviving a mob assassination attempt in February, was sentenced to five years probation for a gambling conviction. Eto has been providing mob secrets to federal prosecutors and the FBI while in the witness-protection program.
• Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Hit with Gastritis, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Edwin O. Reischauer, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, was hospitalized in Boston with gastritis and internal bleeding, and was reported in stable condition. Doctors noted his ailment might possibly be related to a stabbing he suffered in Japan in 1964, though this was not confirmed.
• Another Nikkei Probed by L.A. Board, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ordered an investigation into the Department of Public Social Services headed by Nisei Eddy Tanaka, marking the third probe into a county department led by a Japanese American. The review will examine the appropriateness of the department’s management organization, size and structure.
• Nikkei Killed in Korea by Robber, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Minoru Nakamura, a 58-year-old Japanese American employee of Marubeni America Corp., was found killed in a Seoul hotel room, apparently the victim of a robbery. Police found him with his hands tied behind his back and a necktie around his neck.

Obituaries

• Stanley Chikashi Kokata, page 2. Stanley Chikashi Kokata, 51, of Honolulu died April 26; born in Wahiawa, Kauai, he was a sales representative for Mum’s Co. and the first Nikkei to become a commodore of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He is survived by his son, father, brothers, sisters and a granddaughter.

Community

• Buddhist Campaign Raises $1 Million, page 3. The Campaign for Buddhism in America announced that 25 trustees pledged a total of $1,096,100 toward a $15 million fundraising goal to support ministerial education and administrative efficiency. A major donor and industrialist supporter contributed $10,000 personally and an additional $100,000 through his private foundation.
• Eye Examinations Set, page 3. A free eye screening for the Asian community will be offered at White Memorial Medical Center’s Eye Clinic to detect glaucoma, cataracts and diabetes-related eye abnormalities. No appointments are necessary for the event.
• California First Bank Acquires 18 New Branches in North Area, page 3. The Bank of California agreed to sell 18 Northern California branches to California First Bank for approximately $18.8 million, as part of a strategy to focus on corporate and private banking clients. The acquisition will give California First Bank 130 branches statewide, including 37 in Northern California.
• JA Day Slated at Candlestick Park in S.F., page 3. Kimochi Senior Center and the San Francisco Giants will present Japanese American Day on July 30, honoring Giants pitcher Atlee Hammaker as one of two Japanese Americans in the major leagues. The event will feature pre-game entertainment including the San Francisco Taiko Dojo Kai.
• Topaz Reunion Space Available, page 3. Plans are nearly complete for a reunion of the Class of 1943 and 1944 Topaz High School, including a dinner at the Presidio Officers’ Club and a picnic the following day. Registration is required and open to anyone interested in meeting former Topaz residents.
• Ikebana Show at Huntington Gallery, page 3. Japanese flower arrangements created by members of the San Marino Ikebana League will be displayed at the Ikebana House at the Huntington Library over a weekend in May. The event is free and open to the public.
• U.S. Flags for Meiji Mura Museum, page 5. Seattle JACL’s Ken Nakano presented American and Washington state flags to M. Nishio, architect of the Meiji-mura Museum project in Japan, which incorporates Seattle’s former Japanese Evangelical Church building. The flags will fly over the museum upon its expected completion next year.
• Honolulu Fundraiser Draws 1,300, page 5. The Honolulu JACL Chapter’s ‘Naoyuki Harada Show’ fundraiser drew an audience of 1,300 at the Pacific Beach Hotel, featuring the leading Japanese Minyo folk song performer Harada along with local entertainers Nanci and Teddy Tanaka. Various local minyo singers and groups also participated in the event.
• Mothers of the Year, page 6. The Downtown L.A. JACL Chapter honored four women as ‘Mothers of the Year’ during a luncheon at the New Otani Hotel in Little Tokyo. The honorees were Aya Nakaoka, Kayo Takasugi, Fusako Hamaguchi and Hatsuko Nasu.
• Contra Costa CARP Probes Recreation, page 6. The Contra Costa JACL Aging and Retirement Program will hold a workshop titled ‘Recreation and Leisure’ exploring creative uses of time for those approaching retirement. George Yoshida and social worker Jean Whiteneck will present a skit, while Chizu and Ernie Iiyama will share ideas for activities.
• Marutani to Address Scholars, page 6. Judge William Marutani will be the keynote speaker at the 1983 Cleveland JACL Scholarship Dinner on June 18 at the Bond Court Hotel. The event honors local scholarship recipients.

Incarceration & Redress

• Manzanar Pilgrimage Attracts 200 to Former Internment Camp, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Approximately 200 people attended the 14th annual Pilgrimage to Manzanar despite rain and wind, featuring a new tour of the camp’s gardens and commemorating the tenth anniversary of the site’s designation as a State Historical Landmark. Former internee Shi Nomura shared his experiences, religious services were held, and representatives from the redress movement provided updates.
• ‘Lost Years’ Book Now Available, page 3. The Manzanar Committee has released a new edition of ‘The Lost Years—1942-46’ with an updated bibliography after the original monograph went out of print. Copies can be purchased through the Amerasia Bookstore or directly from the Manzanar Committee.
• Amendment for Calif.’s AB 2710 Called for by State Sen. Dills, by P.C. Staff, page 4. State Sen. Ralph Dills requested an amendment to AB 2710, a bill compensating Japanese American state workers who lost jobs during WWII internment, to include former University of California and California State University employees who were unintentionally excluded. Dills asked for an additional appropriation of over $23,000 to cover these claimants.
• Ca. Senate Passes Redress Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A joint resolution authored by State Senator Milton Marks urging Congress to provide compensation for Japanese Americans relocated during WWII was approved by the California State Senate. Marks cited his personal memory of witnessing the evacuation and his support for JACL’s call for monetary compensation.
• PSWDC Redress Report, by Harry Kajihara, page 6. The Pacific Southwest District Council submitted its second $10,000 redress pledge installment to the National JACL Redress Program, bringing cumulative donations to $20,000. A successful fundraising dinner sponsored by the San Fernando Valley JACL Chapter raised $4,500, making it the first chapter to exceed its three-year pledge assessment with $12,905 donated total.

Commentary

• JACL Story, by James Oda, page 4. A letter writer criticizes the Pacific Citizen for allegedly favoring anti-JACL viewpoints promoted by William Hohri’s organization over traditional JACL positions represented by Mike Masaoka. The outgoing editor responds, defending the paper’s practice of printing diverse viewpoints and arguing this does not constitute endorsement.
• Guest’s Column Response on JACL Mistakes, by M. Aruko, page 4. A reader suggests that Bill Hosokawa’s book ‘JACL: In Quest of Justice’ is missing a chapter on the organization’s mistakes and failures, arguing that acknowledging flaws would strengthen rather than weaken the organization. The writer draws a parallel to JACL’s own call for government acknowledgment of wartime wrongs.

In-Depth

• How to Raise an Asian American Baby, by Mayumi Tsutakawa, page 4. This poignant essay, reprinted from the Seattle International Examiner, offers a whimsical and heartfelt guide to raising an Asian American child, blending cultural traditions, food, language and family involvement. The piece reflects on the joys and challenges of parenthood while celebrating heritage and the next generation’s future.

JACL

• Violence Against Asians, by Floyd Shimomura, page 5. JACL National President Floyd Shimomura writes about a disturbing pattern of racially motivated violence against Asian Americans, citing the murders of Vincent Chin and Thong Hy Huynh as evidence of growing anti-Asian backlash tied to economic anxiety over Japanese competition. He expresses concern that violent racism may be resurging across the country, even in seemingly progressive communities like Davis.
• Musubi: So Long, P.I., by Ron Wakabayashi, page 5. JACL National Director Ron Wakabayashi announces the departure of Pacific Citizen editor Peter Imamura and discusses the search for a replacement during a critical period for the organization, including upcoming redress legislation and Ellison Onizuka’s historic space shuttle flight. He also highlights the vernacular press’s important role, noting that many state worker compensation claimants learned about the program through the Pacific Citizen.
• Thousanders’ Corner: Sources of Funds, by Dr. Frank Sakamoto, page 5. Dr. Frank Sakamoto praises a proposed Pooled Income Fund concept for JACL fundraising and describes the National 1000 Club’s Mike Masaoka Fellowship Fund, which allows donors to contribute $1,000 in installments for various giving categories. He explains that the funds will support JACL operations through the Restricted Fund’s interest earnings.
• Sacramento JACL to Honor Scholarship Winners for 1983, page 5. The Sacramento JACL Chapter will hold its Scholarship Banquet on June 15, honoring numerous recipients of various named scholarships including the Sacramento Chapter JACL Scholarship and several VFW-related awards. The event will take place at the Fujii Restaurant.
• Marina to Sponsor Japan Tour, page 5. The Marina JACL Chapter is sponsoring its Second Annual Sansei Tour to Japan departing August 20, led by travel agent Quinn Okamoto, visiting cities including Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. The 15-day tour is open to all ages for $1,495 including airfare.
• PANA Tours Slated, page 6. JACL Pacific Southwest District members will attend the Pan American Nikkei Convention in Lima, Peru, July 13-17, with business and professional workshops planned including new dental and communication sessions. Multiple tour packages are available including pre- and post-convention trips to Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls.

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