Redress becomes law: reactions to the signing of H.R. 442

Vol. 107, No. 5, September 2, 1988. 12 pages. View this issue

The signing of the redress bill ran through this issue. Redress under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was marked in several places: the NCRR celebration where Norman Mineta and Bert Nakano spoke, a Sacramento gathering that honored 58 people for the campaign, and the conference report text and House roll call on page 6. California’s A.B. 4087, signed by Gov. George Deukmejian, drew controversy over Assemblywoman Marian La Follette’s remarks about the World War II incarceration (often called internment), which a P.C. editorial answered. Columns by Clifford Uyeda and George Johnston looked back at the JACL national convention in Seattle.

Elsewhere are the Civil Rights march in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 27, new road signs at the Topaz site, a letter from President Reagan to JACL, Sue Kunitomi Embrey’s note on The Lost Years, and sports pages on golf and tennis tournaments.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• California’s A.B. 4087 Approved, But Not Without Controversy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gov. George Deukmejian signed AB 4087 exempting redress payments from state income tax and protecting public assistance eligibility, despite controversy over Assemblywoman Marian La Follette’s remarks comparing internment to humane treatment. Fellow legislators and former JACL National Director Ron Wakabayashi denounced her statements as racist, prompting a partial apology from La Follette.
• New Road Signs for Topaz Erected, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Four new road signs were erected to help visitors find the Topaz War Relocation Authority Center site near Delta City Park. Volunteers Yukus Inouye and Frank Yoshimura spent two days repairing the vandalized fence and installing signage, while Stephan Sugiyama supervised cleanup efforts.
• Anti-Redress Lawsuit Planned?, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A group called Americans for Historical Accuracy reportedly indicated it would file a class-action lawsuit against redress after H.R. 442 became law, calling redress a ‘sham.’ There has been no further word on the lawsuit since the legislation’s enactment.
• NCRR Event Draws 1,200 in Celebration of Bill’s Enactment, by Laurie Mochidome, page 1. Over 1,200 people attended an NCRR-hosted event at the Japan America Theatre celebrating President Reagan’s signing of the redress bill, featuring Rep. Norman Mineta and NCRR spokesperson Bert Nakano as speakers. Mineta praised the grassroots campaign while cautioning that vigilance against future civil rights violations is still needed.
• NCRR Celebrates Signing of H.R. 442, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The NCRR celebration continuation detailed Mineta’s acknowledgment of congressional supporters and Bert Nakano’s address stating the bill strikes a blow against racism and governmental theft of constitutional rights. The event included a purification ceremony, performances by San Jose Taiko and jazz musician Glen Horiuchi, and recognition of local dignitaries including Fred Korematsu.
• Extract of HR 442 Conference Report: Redress Bill Signed by President Reagan, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This extract details the full text and provisions of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, including the $20,000 restitution payments, establishment of the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, and the Board of Directors overseeing disbursements. The legislation apologizes on behalf of the United States for the wartime internment of Japanese Americans and establishes procedures for locating and paying eligible individuals.
• Event Honors 58 for Redress Efforts, by Toko Fujii, page 8. A Sacramento gathering called ‘Justice For All’ attracted 500 people to honor 58 political and Nikkei leaders for their work on the redress bill’s passage, featuring speeches by Rep. Robert Matsui, Jerry Enomoto, Ron Wakabayashi and John Tateishi. The event included awarding of plaques, a discussion of AB 4087’s state tax exemption provisions, and book signings by authors Tateishi and Mary Tsukamoto.

National

• JACL Participates in March for Civil Rights, by Rita Takahashi, page 1. Asian and Pacific Island Americans joined thousands in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 27 for a march commemorating the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington. JACL members, including Yasuo Takahashi and former National President Pat Okura, carried signs promoting civil rights and full employment freedom.
• Columnist’s Quotes Create Controversy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen drew criticism from NCWNP JACL Regional Director George Kondo over a column suggesting a Japanese American’s father was a spy during WWII. Kondo’s follow-up letters demanded Caen retract the false and offensive implication, since no espionage cases were ever attributed to Japanese Americans during the war.
• Takeshita Responds to Black Caucus Protest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita responded in writing to a U.S. Congressional Black Caucus letter protesting alleged racial prejudice in Japan. The protest cited remarks by a Liberal Democratic Party member and the sale of Black mannequins and ‘Sambo’ dolls in Japan.
• Matsunaga Gets Bentsen Post in November if Democrats Win, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sen. Spark Matsunaga could become chairman of the Senate Finance Committee if Lloyd Bentsen vacates his seat after being selected as Dukakis’s running mate. Matsunaga said the opportunity would allow him to pursue tax incentives for social goals, and he plans to retire after his next term.
• Search Procedure Discriminatory, Say AA Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian American leaders in Seattle allege unfair treatment of Norihiko Mihara, the most qualified Japanese American applicant denied a final interview for the University of Washington’s vice president of minority affairs position. Leaders speculate Asians are overlooked for such roles because they are seen as not needing affirmative action.
• HR 442 Conference Report: House Roll Call, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The House approved the conference report of H.R. 442 on Aug. 4 with a vote of 257 yeas to 156 nays, after unanimous Senate passage on July 27. President Reagan signed the bill into law on Aug. 10, and the article lists the complete roll call of representatives’ votes.

Community

• CCDC Holds Scholarship Dinner, by Thomas Toyoma, page 2. Fifty people attended the JACL Central California District Council’s scholarship dinner in Selma, where Clifford Sera won the CCDC-JACL oratorical contest. Other business included review of National JACL resolutions and updates on the Mitsue Takahashi case.
• AutumnFest ’88 Offers Evening of Celebration, by P.C. Staff, page 2. AutumnFest ’88, an evening of culture, cuisine and celebration, is scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles. The event is co-chaired by Sandy Sakamoto and Tim Manaka.
• Future Of Japanese Americans Discussed, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 2. UCLA sociology professor Dr. Harry Kitano gave a keynote address at the Nikkei Education Conference in Seattle outlining differing Japanese and American cultural values affecting Japanese American identity. Professor Franklin Odo challenged Kitano’s models, warning of internal tensions and advocating training in conflict resolution for future Nikkei leadership.
• National AJAA Awards 12 Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Asian American Journalists Association awarded $14,000 in scholarships to 12 students pursuing journalism careers, with top winners Elizabeth Chur and Guy Gruppie each receiving $2,000. The program was coordinated by Wendy Hanamura and Jan Yanehiro of KPIX-TV in San Francisco.
• Silent Auction, ‘Pioneering Professionals’ to Highlight AAJA Chapter Fund-raiser, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Asian American Journalists Association Los Angeles chapter is holding a Scholarship Dinner and Silent Auction on Sept. 9 at the Biltmore Hotel, honoring pioneer journalists Louise Leung Larson, Bill Hosokawa and Carlos Bulosan. The event aims to raise funds for AAJA’s scholarship program, which has awarded over $65,000 to about 60 students over five years.

JACL

• Masaoka, Furutani Opine on Nikkei Options, by Ken Mochizuki, page 2. At the National JACL Nikkei Education Conference in Seattle, Mike Masaoka urged Japanese Americans to teach children about their history and join JACL to build political power, citing potential Senate leadership roles for Sens. Matsunaga and Inouye. Warren Furutani, the first Asian American elected to the LA School Board, emphasized that Nikkei must rise above self-defeat to become leaders in education and other fields.

Military & Veterans

• Study on Asian, Polynesian Vietnam Vets Proposed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sen. Spark Matsunaga introduced legislation requiring a VA study on post-traumatic stress disorder among Asian and Polynesian American Vietnam veterans, since the national study would not sample enough of these veterans for significant data. The proposed study would cost between $500,000 and $1 million.

Commentary

• Some People Still Don’t Understand, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial discusses Assemblywoman Marian La Follette’s controversial remarks opposing AB 4087 and the swift rebuttals from fellow assemblymen defending Japanese American citizenship rights. The piece argues that despite redress victory, the fight for recognition of constitutional equality for all ethnic Americans continues.
• Settling the Score, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. Shimabukuro reflects on a dinner meeting years ago with community activists and recounts his experience at the JACL National Convention in Seattle. He discusses an attempted meeting with Stephen Sumida and lingering feelings about his JACL employment experience.
• JACL & Dissidents: Postponed, but Unresolved, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. Uyeda details the Golden Gate Chapter’s resolution asking JACL to acknowledge its wartime error toward dissidents and draft resisters, which was declared technically unacceptable at the convention despite meeting submission requirements. He argues JACL must acknowledge its historical complicity in wartime incarceration just as the government has, calling the tabled decision a keen disappointment.
• Happy 90th, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Marutani’s column marks the 90th anniversary of Philippine independence from Spain, reviewing the nation’s history from Magellan’s arrival through the Spanish-American War to full independence in 1946. He expresses hope for President Corazon Aquino’s land redistribution program and the stabilization of Philippine democracy.
• Some Thoughts on the Seattle Convention, by George Johnston, page 4. Johnston reflects on the JACL National Convention in Seattle, praising the organizers and noting the lack of election controversy compared to the previous convention. He also discusses the timing of Reagan’s signing of H.R. 442 during the convention and credits Rose Ochi for finding the historic 1945 Pacific Citizen quote Reagan used.
• Letter from Reagan Wakabayashi, by Gunnar Olsborg, page 5. A reader seeks information about a 1937-38 Life magazine article on the International Women’s Peace Convention in Honolulu, offering $10 for the back issue or details about its content. The letter references an earlier published letter about International Women’s Day history.
• Domo from Sumitomo, by Kyle Tatsumoto, page 5. A Sumitomo Bank officer thanks JACL for its hospitality during the 30th Biennial Convention in Seattle, noting the bank’s partnership program with JACL was well received. He expresses appreciation for meeting many JACL members from around the country.
• Letter from President Reagan, by Ronald Reagan, page 5. President Reagan’s letter to JACL National President Harry Kajihara reflects on his honor in working to heal the wound of Japanese American internment through the redress bill. He wishes JACL a productive convention and reaffirms America’s commitment to liberty and justice for all.
• In Search of an Article, by Mei Nakano, page 5. Nakano praises an editorial about Ron Wakabayashi’s tenure as JACL National Director, recalling her 1984 description of him as an articulate, progressive choice selected at the right time. She thanks Wakabayashi for his contributions and wishes him well upon his departure.
• Hate-Crime Stats, by Carlton Sagara, page 5. A letter from the Asian American Resource Workshop in Boston corrects a prior P.C. article, clarifying that Massachusetts Governor Dukakis had not yet introduced hate crimes statistics legislation. The writer cites AARW research showing a significant increase in racially-motivated crimes against Asians in Boston and calls for statewide hate crime data collection.
• Crossroads, by Kenichi Bunden, page 5. Bunden argues JACL is at a crossroads and must acknowledge its past wartime errors just as the government has acknowledged wrongdoing toward internees. He warns that JACL must embrace broader civil rights leadership and address declining membership beyond just medical benefits.
• ‘Lost Years’, by Sue Kunitomi Embrey, page 5. Embrey thanks the Pacific Citizen for publicizing the 5th edition of her book The Lost Years, which generated over 50 orders from across the country. She notes the handling fee only covers postage, not her time addressing labels and mailing packages.
• de Cristoforo Story, by Peter Suzuki, page 5. Suzuki praises Frank Abe’s article on Violet Kazue de Cristoforo’s case against an anthropologist, noting her affidavit built an ironclad case backed by primary sources. He calls on the University of California and researcher Rosalie Hankey Wax to apologize for the pain caused by their wartime research project.
• ‘One Thing…’ Continued, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 12. Shimabukuro continues his reflection on past grievances with JACL, concluding that perceived ill-will may not have been real since no one directly confronted him. He resolves to contact Stephen Sumida but cannot recall why he wanted to see him.
• ‘Iroiro’ Continued, by George Johnston, page 12. Johnston praises the volunteers who ran convention registration tables and highlights Ken Mochizuki and Holly Yasui’s work producing the daily convention newsletter using desktop publishing technology. He also announces the Holiday Issue’s redress theme and invites reader submissions.

Sports

• JACL Golfers Have Swinging Time, by Bob Sato, page 9. The first National JACL Golf Tournament in Seattle attracted 49 women and 150 men just before the National Convention, sponsored by Miller Beer with trophies donated by Japan’s Consul General. Gene Uno and Ann Hidaka Turner, both from Seattle, were named National Grand Champions.
• San Jose JACL June 19 Tournament Results Revealed, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The San Jose JACL annual Doubles Tennis Tournament featured 55 teams and 110 participants at West Valley College, with Alan Furuya and Brad Shak defending their Men’s A division title for the third time. Results across multiple divisions were announced along with event organizers and volunteers.

Obituaries

• Warren S. Kubota, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Award-winning playwright Warren S. Kubota died Aug. 14 in San Francisco after a 12-year battle with cancer at age 35. He authored the acclaimed play Webster Street Blues, which earned him the 1987 Will Glickman Award for best new play in the Bay Area, and is survived by his father, mother and brother.

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