Retrial in the Vincent Chin case and a disputed JACL election

Vol. 103, No. 13, September 26, 1986. 8 pages. View this issue

The Justice Department decided to retry Ronald Ebens after his civil rights conviction in the 1982 death of Vincent Chin was overturned on appeal. Rep. Norman Mineta called the decision “correct and timely.” The front page also carried the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report on anti-Asian violence, and Robert Shimabukuro’s account of the dispute over proxy and bloc votes at the JACL national convention in Chicago, with a ruling from interim legal counsel Paul Igasaki on page 4.

Elsewhere in the issue: Asian groups spoke against California’s Proposition 63, the English-only measure, and the Sunnyvale Air Force Station was renamed for astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka. Grayce Uyehara reported on the redress bill, H.R. 442. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the hunt for matsutake mushrooms, and an exhibit of Hisako Hibi’s paintings of Topaz was extended in San Francisco.

What’s in this issue

National

• Justice Dept. to Retry Chin Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Justice Department decided to retry Ronald Ebens after his civil rights conviction in the 1982 beating death of Vincent Chin was overturned on appeal. JACL and Asian American leaders praised the decision as correct and timely given the gravity of the case.
• Commission Report Released on Anti-Asian Violence, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released an 87-page report examining anti-Asian violence, vandalism, harassment and intimidation nationwide, citing incidents from New York to California. The report concluded that no single factor explains the sentiment, but rather a combination including misinformation and media stereotypes.
• Asian Groups Unanimous in Opposing Prop. 63, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 6. Speakers from various Asian communities at a Los Angeles press conference voiced opposition to California’s Proposition 63, which would make English the state’s official language. Speakers including Alan Nishio and Councilman Mike Woo warned the measure would threaten bilingual services and recalled historical ‘English Only’ policies in WWII camps.
• Legislature to Hold Hearings on Initiative, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Joint hearings of the State Senate Elections Committee and an Assembly task force will examine the potential effects of Proposition 63 in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Speakers will include both supporters like S.I. Hayakawa and opponents like Attorney General John Van de Kamp and JACL’s Ron Wakabayashi.
• Violence Report Continued: Causes and Limitations, by P.C. Staff, page 8. This continuation of the Civil Rights Commission report details causes of anti-Asian sentiment including large refugee influxes and economic competition fears, while noting data limitations since only two of 50 surveyed law enforcement agencies tracked such incidents. The study was expanded into field research with interviews conducted across eight states and Washington, D.C.
• Vincent Chin Case: Community Reaction and Background, by P.C. Staff, page 8. This continuation details the appeals court ruling that overturned Ebens’ conviction based on restricted access to pretrial recordings, and the reaction from ACJ’s James Shimoura who vowed to monitor the retrial. Vincent Chin’s mother Lily Chin pleaded for justice, while Ebens denied being racist despite admitting to a ‘grievous wrong.’

Arts & Entertainment

• Asians Featured in Fall TV Shows, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three new network shows this fall feature Asian American actors as regulars, including Ke Huy Quan in ‘Together We Stand,’ Keone Young in ‘Kay O’Brien,’ and Ernie Reyes Jr. in ‘Sidekicks.’ The article details each actor’s role and prior film and television credits.
• Hollywood Star to Bear JA’s Name, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Actor George Takei will receive a star on Hollywood Blvd’s Walk of Fame in a ceremony sponsored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, an effort spearheaded by the Asian Business Association. Takei will also receive ABA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his work helping Asian American businesses secure contracts with the Metro Rail project.
• Exhibit of Issei Artist’s Works Extended, by P.C. Staff, page 8. An exhibit of oil paintings by Issei artist Hisako Hibi depicting the Tanforan Assembly Center and Topaz camp has been extended through September 30 at the National Japanese American Historical Society in San Francisco. Hibi, who was incarcerated at Topaz during WWII, has had her paintings viewed by more than 6,000 people.

JACL

• JACL Election Spawns Controversy, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 1. Conflicting interpretations of JACL election rules during the national convention in Chicago led to bitterness and charges of intimidation involving the Central California District Council’s bloc vote for Harry Kajihara. The dispute centered on proxy votes, delegate instructions, and whether a district could compel delegates to vote as directed versus their own conscience in favor of candidate Rose Ochi.
• Election Controversy (Continued), by Robert Shimabukuro, page 2. This continuation details the July 9 CCDC meeting in Fresno where proxies were debated, including an April memo clarifying there was no limit on proxies a delegate could hold. It further explains how CCDC Gov. Peggy Liggett navigated proxy transfers and threatened decertification allegations amid the dispute over bloc voting for Kajihara versus delegate support for Ochi.
• Election Controversy: Attorney’s Ruling, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 4. Interim legal counsel Paul Igasaki ruled that District Councils cannot compel delegates to vote in a particular way at the National Convention, and that the Vice President for General Operations has authority over convention procedures. Peggy Liggett disputed the ruling as ‘shoddy legal reasoning’ and instead relied on advice from veteran JACLers Tom Shimasaki and Fred Hirasuna to recover disputed proxy votes.
• Active on Many Fronts—and Gearing Up for More, by Harry Kajihara, page 5. National JACL President Harry Kajihara writes about ongoing JACL activities including scholarship awards, the Women’s Concerns conference, and the upcoming October board meeting in San Francisco. He also discusses budget matters and a meeting with the national director covering cash flow and fund management.

Community

• Nishikawa a Potential L.A. Council Candidate, by Lynn Sakamoto-Chung, page 1. Dennis Nishikawa, chief of staff for outgoing L.A. Councilman David Cunningham, is considering running for the 10th District council seat despite expected opposition from a Black candidate backed by Mayor Tom Bradley. Nishikawa has raised about $80,000 in pledges primarily from Asian/Pacific communities toward his goal of $250,000 for a viable campaign.
• USAF Facility Named After JA Astronaut, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Sunnyvale Air Force Station was renamed in honor of fallen astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka during a September ceremony. Rep. Norman Mineta, who sponsored the renaming legislation, and Onizuka’s widow Lorna attended the dedication.
• Task Force Hearings: New York Asians Speak on Community Issues, page 3. Representatives of Asian American organizations testified before a panel of New York City officials about needs including housing, bilingual services, job training, and anti-Asian violence. Speakers included Cyril Nishimoto of Japanese American Social Services, Fumi Raith of Asian American Mental Health Services, and Margaret Fung of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
• A/P Education Concerns to be Addressed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Results of a 15-month study on educational needs of Asian/Pacific Islander students in California public schools will be discussed at a Santa Ana meeting. The briefing is part of a series held by the State Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Asian/Pacific Islander Affairs.
• Nisei Post to Pay Homage to Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nisei Post 8985 in Sacramento will honor about 150 Issei parents at an annual dinner thanking them for enduring prewar hardships and wartime internment. The tradition, now 30 years old, is funded through annual paper drives.
• Japantown Run Raises Funds for Senior Service, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The second annual Japantown Banner 10K Walk/Run in San Jose raised $6,827 for the building fund of the Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service. Winners in various divisions were recognized, including 75-year-old Edward Ogoshi as the oldest participant.
• Board of Supervisors Hopefuls to Address Asian Community, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Candidates for San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, Board of Education, and Community College Board will speak at a Candidate’s Night sponsored by 11 Asian and Pacific community organizations. Organizer Sandy Mori said the event aims to inform voters and demonstrate Asian American voting power.
• Cambodian Runs for Office, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Nil Hul, believed to be the first Cambodian immigrant in the nation to run for office, placed fourth out of 10 candidates in a Long Beach City Council special election. Hul, a grocer and former army officer, said his run is a steppingstone for future Southeast Asian political candidates.

Commentary

• The Mysterious Mania for Matsutake, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa writes about the obsessive hunt for matsutake mushrooms in the Colorado Rockies each September, describing secretive hunters and theories for recent poor harvests including acid rain. He notes two consecutive bad seasons and expresses hope for a better matsutake crop in the future.
• It Said: ‘Planning & Development’, by Bill Marutani, page 4. JACL VP of Planning and Development Bill Marutani describes his initial misconceptions about the role and outlines the six committees under his office, including Aging & Retirement, Scholarship, and Veterans’ Affairs. He calls for grassroots brainstorming on JACL’s long-term goals and plans a codification of the organization’s governing provisions.
• Onizuka Honor, by John F. Maher, page 5. A letter writer supports naming a statue or street in Little Tokyo after astronaut Ellison Onizuka. The writer praises Onizuka as the first Japanese American and first Hawaiian in space who achieved his childhood dream despite lacking role models.
• Gimme a Break, by Paula Shimizu, page 5. A letter writer challenges Yosh Nakashima’s claims in a previous article that women voters gave victory to the male presidential candidate at the JACL convention, questioning his methodology and data. She points out that the female candidate received 49% of votes despite only 17% of delegates being female, calling it a remarkable showing.
• Support Official English, by Hannah Tomiko Holmes, page 5. A deaf Nisei writer expresses support for making English the official language, citing her community’s efforts to achieve better English education and communication technology. She urges support for English as the official language at all government levels.

Incarceration & Redress

• LEC Update, by Grayce Uyehara, page 5. Uyehara reports on the status of redress legislation H.R. 442, which has been delayed in committee due to Congress’s focus on the impeachment trial of Judge Harry Claiborne. She also provides an update on Minoru Yasui’s health following his resignation as LEC chair and notes JACL’s support of the Hohri class action suit petition to the Supreme Court.

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