Vol. 113, No. 18, November 29, 1991. 12 pages. View this issue
The dismissal of charges against four men in the Phoenix Buddhist temple murder case led the news. Prosecutors said they lacked enough evidence, and defense attorneys said the confessions were coerced. Asian American leaders, including Stewart Kwoh and Jimmy Hatanaka Tokeshi of JACL, met to talk about better communication with law enforcement. Another front-page story covered the Manzanar bill, which moved to the full Senate despite a threatened filibuster by Sen. Jake Garn, and Sue Kunitomi Embrey spoke to the concern. JACL also set up a media center in Honolulu for the Pearl Harbor 50th anniversary.
Inside are a report by Harry K. Honda on a Nisei reunion at UCLA, a look at the Nisei roots of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, and a lawsuit by a German American over redress payments. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta criticized Gov. Pete Wilson’s remarks about immigrants, and a story from Norwalk covered a $10,000 reward after racial vandalism at a community center.
What’s in this issue
National
- Charges Dismissed Against Four Men in Phoenix Buddhist Temple Murder Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Charges against four men—Mark Felix Nunez, Leo Valder Bruce, Michael Lawrence McGraw, and Dante Parker—accused of murdering nine people at a Phoenix Buddhist temple were dismissed after prosecutors admitted they lacked sufficient evidence. Defense attorneys claimed confessions were coerced and no physical evidence linked the men to the crime; two teenagers were later arrested based on gun evidence.
- Ice Cube’s ‘Death Certificate’ Album Sparks Furor Over Anti-Korean Lyrics, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rapper Ice Cube’s new album ‘Death Certificate’ has drawn criticism for lyrics in the song ‘Black Korea’ that advocate burning Korean-owned stores and use derogatory terms. Billboard magazine editorialized against the lyrics, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center called on record stores not to sell the album, though it does not advocate censorship.
- Warning Over Holiday Issue Ad Representatives, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Pacific Citizen warned chapters and advertisers to verify identification of Holiday Issue ad representatives after incidents in California of unauthorized individuals soliciting ads. Readers were urged to report any difficulties directly to the newspaper.
- Mineta Criticizes Gov. Wilson Over Immigrant Remarks, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta and other California members of Congress sharply criticized Gov. Pete Wilson for blaming immigrants for the state’s economic problems. The group urged Wilson to retract statements they said created artificial divisions among Californians.
Community
- Asian American Leaders Meet to Discuss Communication After Phoenix Killings, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Following the Phoenix Buddhist temple murders, Asian American, law enforcement, and government officials met to discuss improving communication, citing language barriers between the Thai community and agencies as a critical problem. Leaders including Stewart Kwoh and Jimmy Hatanaka Tokeshi of JACL agreed to coordinate reward funds and promote multicultural education in Arizona.
- Vandalized Norwalk Community Center Gets Security, Reward Offered, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn responded to a Nov. 17 racial vandalism incident at a Japanese American community center by ordering a joint investigation with the Human Relations Commission and District Attorney’s office. A $10,000 reward was announced for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
- Japan Expo ’91 to Feature Japanese Products and Cultural Exhibits in Anaheim, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japan Expo ’91, billed as the largest U.S. exhibition for Japanese cultural and commercial products, will move from Los Angeles to the Anaheim Convention Center Dec. 5-8. The event features trade exhibits, restaurant performances, and cultural displays including tea ceremony and ikebana demonstrations.
JACL
- JACL Staffed and Ready for Pearl Harbor 50th Anniversary Media Coverage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL established a media center and annex in Honolulu to assist press covering the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing, coordinating interviews with officials, internees, veterans, and community leaders. William Kaneko said the center aims to take a proactive approach on issues affecting Japanese Americans nationally.
- JACL Leadership Seminar Participants Get First-Hand Look at Government, page 3. Sixteen participants attended the 1991 JACL Washington D.C. Leadership Seminar held Sept. 29-Oct. 3, learning about government operations firsthand. The program featured speakers including officials from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and various civil rights organizations.
- JACL/Blue Shield Announces 1992 Health Plan Contract, by P.C. Staff, page 5. John Yasumoto of San Francisco announced the 1992 JACL-Blue Shield health plan contract will include a minimal dues adjustment and several benefit improvements, including hospice care coverage and increased dental limits. Enrollment is up over 1990 by more than 100 subscribers.
- JACL Sponsors Educational Panel Series for Pearl Harbor Commemoration, by P.C. Staff, page 9. In conjunction with the Pearl Harbor 50th anniversary commemoration, JACL is sponsoring a week-long educational panel series in Honolulu addressing internment implications, modern-day racism, and media stereotypes. Speakers include Rep. Patsy Mink and other community leaders, with events held at the Bishop Museum and University of Hawaii.
Incarceration & Redress
- Manzanar Bill Moves to Full Senate Amid Threatened Filibuster, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Manzanar bill advanced to full Senate consideration despite a threatened filibuster by Sen. Jake Garn of Utah. Sue Kunitomi Embrey noted concerns that the filibuster could hinder the bill’s progress.
- Redress Workshops Set for Colorado, Arizona, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Office of Redress Administration (ORA) scheduled redress information sessions for Denver, Colo., and Glendale, Ariz., to answer questions and review individual case status. About 2,000 cases have yet to be paid, and those born after Aug. 10, 1988 with unresolved cases were urged to contact ORA’s toll-free helpline.
- German American Files Suit Against Reparations Law, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A German American, interned at age 12 in Crystal City, Texas, filed a lawsuit claiming he is being denied $20,000 in redress money reserved for Japanese Americans, with the case set for trial before the U.S. Court of Appeals on Dec. 6. The Justice Department plans to argue that Japanese American internment was uniquely driven by racial prejudice, unlike the treatment of German and Italian internees.
In-Depth
- Nisei Role in U.S.-Japan Bridge Examined at UCLA Reunion, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. At a ‘Back to UCLA with Pride’ event marking the 50th anniversary of Japanese American internment, Dr. Toshio Tsukahira urged Nisei to help combat Japan-bashing given the importance of Pacific Rim relations. Speakers, including Father John Yamazaki, honored Nisei who died in WWII combat and praised the achievements of Japanese Americans in government and business.
- Nisei Legacy Honored at Defense Language Institute in Monterey, page 6. The U.S. Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, descended from the WWII Military Intelligence Language School founded by four Nisei instructors, honors key Nisei figures by naming campus buildings after them, including John Aiso, Yutaka Munakata, and three Nisei soldiers killed in action. The article recounts the ironic history of Gen. John L. DeWitt’s involvement and the school’s forced move to Minnesota after the internment order, while noting the wartime contributions of Nisei linguists have received less recognition than the 442nd and 100th Battalion infantrymen.
Military & Veterans
- Nisei Veteran Leader Wilson Makabe Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Wilson Haruo Makabe, 72, a WWII amputee veteran and longtime advocate for disabled veterans in Nevada, died Nov. 1 and was buried with full military honors. The Reno Gazette-Journal editorial recounted his father’s wartime arrest by the FBI and Makabe’s loss of a leg in combat while proving his patriotism, noting he represented National JACL at the Bruyeres dedication in France.
- Veterans Seek Help to Complete WWII Honor Roll in Little Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 9. National veterans groups are seeking assistance from Nisei families to identify graduates listed only by initials in the Military Intelligence Language School Album (1946) for an honor roll to be located in Little Tokyo. The criteria include Japanese Americans who served with the 100th Infantry, 442nd RCT, and MIS during WWII, as well as certain non-Nikkei who served alongside them.
Arts & Entertainment
- Five Judges Named for Pacific Citizen Holiday Issue Short Story Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Five distinguished Asian American writers and academics—Velina Hasu Houston, Lydia Nakashima Ko(?), David Mura, and others—will judge entries in the Pacific Citizen/Association of Asian Pacific American Artists short story contest. The contest offers a $500 first prize with the winning entry to be published in the 1991 Holiday Issue.
Commentary
- Fish Mountain: A Journey to Sanzen-in Temple, page 6. The columnist recounts a visit to O-hara and the Sanzen-in temple on Gyo-zan (Fish Mountain) in Japan, describing the picturesque scenery, historic artifacts, and a hike to nearby waterfalls. The essay reflects on the beauty of the temple grounds and its royal historical connections dating to the eighth century.
Obituaries
- Obituary Notices, page 10. This page lists numerous obituary notices for Japanese American community members who died in October and November 1991, including details of survivors and hometowns. Individuals listed include James W. Abe, Masao Akiyoshi, Tamotsu Arimoto, and many others from across the country.
- Additional Obituary Notices, page 12. This page continues obituary listings including Henry Taketa, longtime Sacramento JACL leader known as ‘Mr. Sacramento JACL,’ who died of an aneurysm, and Beverly Yasui, founder-executive director of the Union of Pan Asian Communities in San Diego, who died of liver cancer. Other listed individuals include Toshiro Sugimoto, Lillian Takahashi, and Masaki Takahashi among many others.
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