Vol. 113, No. 3, August 2, 1991. 12 pages. View this issue
Anti-Asian violence and civil rights ran through this issue. A new resource book traced the history of such violence back to the 1840s and listed legal protections, while Bill Yoshino, JACL national director, called the conviction of Lloyd Piche in the Jim Loo case gratifying. A New York City Council redistricting plan was rejected as legally unenforceable, with Margaret Fung commenting, and the JACL National Youth Council began to reorganize under chairwoman Trish Murakawa, with a youth conference planned for November in Los Angeles.
Elsewhere are an Office of Redress Administration reply to JACL suggestions on the redress claims process, and UCLA’s plans for a 1992 commemoration of Executive Order 9066 that includes a Day of Remembrance ceremony. Nisei Week in Little Tokyo is previewed. Harry K. Honda reported on the Pan American Nikkei conference in Paraguay, and Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani wrote columns on page 8.
What’s in this issue
National
- Anti-Asian Violence Book Available for JACL Chapters, page 1. A new resource book examines the history of anti-Asian violence dating back to the 1840s, exploring its causes and existing legal protections for individuals. The handbook includes a directory of governmental agencies, organizations, and publications useful to JACL chapters and civil rights offices.
- N.Y. Redistricting Plan Is Rejected, page 1. New York City’s Council redistricting plan was found ‘legally unenforceable’ for violating the Voting Rights Act. Margaret Fung, executive director, noted there was support for challenging the plan.
- Loo Case Conviction Applauded, page 1. The July 15 conviction of Lloyd Piche on civil rights violations in the Jim Loo case was applauded by the Asian American community as the first federal prosecution of its kind since the Vincent Chin case. Bill Yoshino, JACL national director, called the outcome gratifying, noting that unlike the Chin case, justice was properly served this time; a coalition led by OCA and including JACL had pressed for the prosecution.
JACL
- JACL National Youth Council Reorganizes, Plans Conference, page 1. The National Youth Council of JACL has begun a reorganization process aimed at establishing wider representation across districts. Only five of eight districts currently have youth representatives, according to national youth chairwoman Trish Murakawa, who noted the council hadn’t met in years until this recent Los Angeles meeting.
- JACL Acts on Restaurant Racial Incident, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District prepared a position paper responding to a recent racial incident involving Caucasian women at an Onion restaurant. The action addresses concerns about discriminatory treatment reported at the establishment.
- 1991 JACL National Youth Conference Planned, page 6. JACL will hold a National Youth Conference Nov. 8-10 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Los Angeles, building on the 1990 Youth Council for Action. The agenda includes workshops on cultural awareness, advocacy training, and leadership development for JACL youth and student members.
Community
- Shae Mae Yang Lo Visits with L.A. Supervisor Yvonne Burke Brathwaite and Candidate Kim Hahn, page 1. Shae Mae Yang Lo met with Los Angeles officials including a city council candidate, who praised her as a potential champion for the environment and preservation of parks and urban wildlife. Hahn described her as someone who would represent Asian American women’s interests on the council.
- Nisei Week Scheduled for Aug. 10-18, page 5. The 61st annual Nisei Week festival will run Aug. 10-18 in Little Tokyo, featuring a coronation ball, parade, carnival, and street arts exhibits. Actor Yuji Okumoto and news anchor Joanne Ishimine will serve as parade hosts, with actress Tamlyn Tomita as grand marshal.
- Nikkeis Attend PANA Conference, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The sixth Pan American Nikkei Association conference was held July 25 in Asuncion, Paraguay, with President Alberto Fujimori and other officials in attendance. Chile was admitted as the 11th member country, and speakers addressed JACL’s redress efforts and U.S.-Japan trade impacts on Japanese Americans.
Incarceration & Redress
- ORA Responds to JACL Suggestions for Redress Process, page 3. The Office of Redress Administration (ORA) responded in detail to a series of suggestions from the JACL/LEC board regarding improvements to the redress claims process, covering documentation duplication, family information forms, reference numbering, and letter color-coding. ORA agreed to several changes including dating letters and adding sibling information fields to future forms.
- UCLA to Commemorate Executive Order 9066 Anniversary, page 3. UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center is planning a 1992 series of events marking the 50th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans, including 175 UCLA students. Planned activities include a Day of Remembrance ceremony, a major civil rights conference, film festivals, theater performances, and photo exhibits.
Military & Veterans
- In Memory of a Brother and a 442nd Soldier, page 7. Nobu T. and Miye Kawai of Pasadena contributed to the JACL Legacy Fund in memory of Nobu’s brother, Pfc. Teruo Ted Fujioka, who was killed in action in France at age 19 while serving with the 442nd Combat Team. The article recounts Nobu’s own history as a JACL chapter president during the war, his work as associate editor of the Heart Mountain Sentinel, and the couple’s enduring belief in honoring the sacrifices of Nisei soldiers.
Commentary
- Rest Stops and Restaurants on the Road, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa reflects on a 2,700-mile drive through the American Midlands, praising the efficiency of the interstate highway system and the beauty of the Great Plains farmland. He also muses on the uniformity of highway rest stops and chain restaurants, including the spread of mediocre Chinese restaurants far from major cities.
- Shigaretto, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani offers a brief linguistic commentary on Japanese words for smoking and drinking, questioning usage of terms like ‘tabako wo nomu’ versus ‘tabako wo suu’. The piece is a short reflective aside on language nuance.
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