Redress aid, campus racism and hate crimes bills in 1991

Vol. 112, No. 22, June 7, 1991. 8 pages. View this issue

Civil rights and redress ran through this eight-page issue. A California appeals court ruled unanimously for a plaintiff who accused a UC Santa Cruz official of bias in a campus racism case. The Illinois Senate passed a bill so that former internees would not lose public aid because of redress compensation, and St. Louis County weighed a hate crimes bill. Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar also named an Asian American advisory council, with a roster of its members on page 5.

Elsewhere, Bill Marutani reported on Memorial Day services by the Washington, D.C. JACL at Arlington National Cemetery, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about the Japanese American National Museum’s advisory council. Joy Misako St. Germain covered a retirement workshop held by the Seattle chapter. Other items covered K. Patrick Okura’s alumni honor, jockey Corey Nakatani and NASA’s selection of Dr. Eugene H. Trinh.

What’s in this issue

National

• Court Rules for Nikkei in Campus Racism Suit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Court of Appeals unanimously ruled in favor of a plaintiff who accused a UC Santa Cruz official of bias in a campus racism case. The attorney for the plaintiff called the ruling extremely important in vindicating free speech concerns.
• Bill Would Allow State Aid for Redress Recipients, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Illinois Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 34, sponsored by Sen. William Marovitz, ensuring former internees are not deprived of public aid because of redress compensation. The bill, backed by the Asian American Bar Association and the Chicago JACL Chapter, has largely symbolic value since few Japanese Americans receive state public aid.
• St. Louis County Latest to Propose Hate Crimes Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. St. Louis County is considering a hate crimes bill that would impose penalties of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for crimes motivated by race, religion, or national origin. County Executive Buzz Westfall said verbal and physical acts of bigotry, including anti-Asian harassment, have not been adequately addressed in the county’s history.
• Groups Charge New York City Redistricting Violates Voting Rights Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three advocacy groups charged that proposed district lines for Lower Manhattan would violate the federal Voting Rights Act by diluting Asian American and Latino voting power. The criticism was leveled against the New York City Districting Commission by Asian American, Puerto Rican, and community defense and education organizations.
• Survey Finds Blacks and Whites Share Views on Japan, With Some Differences, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A survey by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found blacks and whites hold similar overall views of Japanese economic practices but differ on some points, including perceptions of discrimination and trade threats. Blacks were found to be more open to increased contact and improved relations with Japanese, despite recent racially offensive remarks by Japanese officials.
• K. Patrick Okura Named Distinguished Alumni of the Year, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Former National JACL President K. Patrick Okura was chosen by the University of Nebraska as their 1991 Distinguished Alumni of the Year. He was honored at an Alumni Day luncheon, having previously been recognized in 1980 at UCLA’s Westwood campus.
• L.A. County Panel Redraws Supervisorial Districts, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A 10-member Los Angeles County panel, formed after a federal court-ordered redistricting ruling, worked to draw new supervisorial district lines in a politically and racially sensitive process. The panel’s membership includes two Latinos, two Asians, and one Black representative.
• Vietnamese American Selected for NASA Space Mission, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Dr. Eugene H. Trinh, 40, was announced by NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the first native Vietnamese to fly on a U.S. space mission, scheduled for June 1992. Born in Saigon and raised in Paris, Trinh has worked at JPL since 1980 and will serve as a payload specialist studying materials in space.

Community

• Asian Americans to Advise Illinois Governor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar established an advisory council of Asian Americans representing diverse ethnic backgrounds and professions to advise his administration on community concerns. The council includes doctors, lawyers, educators, and community leaders from various Asian American communities.
• Seattle JACL Holds Retirement Workshop for Nikkei Community, by Joy Misako St. Germain, page 3. The Seattle Chapter JACL’s Aging and Retirement Committee conducted a pre-retirement workshop at Sand Point Education Center covering Social Security, financial planning, and legal affairs including wills and trusts. Participants said they gained practical information to begin more active retirement planning.
• Washington, D.C. JACL Conducts Memorial Day Services at Arlington, by Bill Marutani, page 4. The Washington, D.C. JACL Chapter conducted Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery, with National JACL formally recognized at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier through the laying of a wreath. After the ceremony, chapter members placed flowers at the headstones of about 40 Japanese Americans buried in the cemetery.
• Roster of Advisors to Illinois Governor, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The article lists members of Gov. Jim Edgar’s Asian American advisory council, representing Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, Vietnamese, and other communities. Professionals listed include doctors, professors, and business leaders from across Illinois.
• Diablo Valley JACL Chapter Agenda Highlights, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Diablo Valley JACL chapter newsletter detailed board activities including health fairs, joint picnics, and Social Security outreach efforts noting many eligible seniors are unaware of SSI benefits. A Sansei board member’s essay in the newsletter highlighted the chapter’s effectiveness in addressing complex needs facing Japanese Americans.
• Community Briefs: Hawaii, Florida, and Career Notes, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kurt Matsumoto, a Lanai native, returned home to work as food and beverage executive at the Manele Bay Hotel after 14 years on the mainland. Seattle-based wholesaler Costco recognized Drew Sakuma of Ft. Lauderdale as its top manager of the year.
• Community Leaders Honored with Order of the Sacred Treasure, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Several Japanese American community leaders, including a bonsai master and gardeners association leader, were awarded Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class. The honorees were recognized for their contributions to community organizations and cultural preservation.

Commentary

• Scholarly Advisory Council’s Eminent Roster, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. The columnist reflects on serving on the Advisory Council of the Japanese American National Museum, noting the impressive credentials of fellow council members including professors, doctors, and specialists across many academic fields. He observes this roster underscores the significant number of Japanese Americans who have won recognition in the social sciences.
• Agrees with Editorial Against L.A. Police Chief, by Joe Sasaki, page 4. A reader from Seattle writes in support of a previous Pacific Citizen editorial criticizing Los Angeles Police Chief Gates. The writer argues that someone in such an important position should not have guaranteed lifetime tenure and that laws should be changed to remove him.

Sports

• Jockey Corey Nakatani Makes Strong Showing at Churchill Downs, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Jockey Corey Nakatani, who grew up in Covina and wrestled at Northview High School, made his first appearance at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby weekend. His mount Lite Lite cruised to a 10-length win in the Kentucky Oaks stakes, though he finished lower in another race after a strong late push.

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