Vol. 114, No. 19, May 15, 1992. 8 pages. View this issue
The Los Angeles riots shaped this eight-page issue. The front page reported that two Asian Americans, Edward Song Lee and Thanh Lam, were among the 58 casualties, and that Takao Hirata survived a beating at Florence and Normandie. Gwen Muranaka wrote about Japanese American relief and counseling efforts and about community leaders’ doubts over federal help for rebuilding. Harry K. Honda looked back on the 1965 Watts riot in a column, and a resource list for victims ran on page 1.
Elsewhere, Karen Narasaki reported on JACL’s work on civil rights measures, including the Voting Rights Act’s language assistance provisions. The JACL national convention in Denver set a June 1 deadline for resolutions, Hank Sakai offered thoughts on JACL restructuring, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about a TV producer’s mistaken questions. Dedications were planned for restored monuments at the Rohwer and Jerome camp sites in Arkansas.
What’s in this issue
National
- Two Asian Americans Killed in L.A. Riots, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two Asian Americans, Edward Song Lee and Thanh Lam, were among the 58 casualties in the Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict. Takao Hirata was also severely beaten but survived after being rescued by a bystander, later honored by the L.A. City Council.
- Journalists Condemn L.A. Times Poll, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association criticized the Los Angeles Times for excluding Asian Americans from a post-riot opinion poll. AAJA president Dean Takahashi questioned why the paper did not oversample Asian Americans to gauge their attitudes on the King verdict and riots.
- Cheryl Lau Has Key Republican Convention Role, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Cheryl Lau, Nevada’s secretary of state, was named vice-chairwoman of the Republican National Convention’s 1992 platform committee. A former music professor turned politician, she hopes the committee recognizes the value of a strong economy and business opportunity.
- Election Roundup, by Harry Honda, page 3. This roundup covers Senate races in Hawaii, congressional candidates in California including Mark Takano and Jay Kim, and local election results including Carson Mayor Mike Mitoma’s re-election. It also notes JACLer Emily Murase’s election as a Democrats Abroad representative in Japan.
- Rebels Clash in Lima Prison, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori’s decrees imposing harsh prison terms on captured rebels sparked violent clashes at Canto Grande prison, injuring police and inmates. About 650 Sendero Luminoso rebels remain imprisoned awaiting trial after Fujimori dissolved Congress.
- North Korea Nuclear Sites Revealed, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report describing North Korea’s nuclear sites, including previously unknown facilities, ahead of a U.S. inspection team’s visit. North Korea has denied the existence of a reprocessing center at Yongbyon despite U.S. intelligence claims.
- JACL (Civil Rights Measures Continued), by Karen Narasaki, page 5. JACL is working with other organizations to remove a special interest provision excluding Wards Cove cannery workers from Civil Rights Act protections, and to support the Equal Remedies Act which would remove damage caps in discrimination cases. Both bills face challenges in Congress but community pressure continues to push for passage.
JACL
- Convention Deadline for Resolutions Is June 1, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Resolutions for the JACL national convention in Denver must be submitted by June 1 to the Resolutions Committee chaired by Dale Ikeda. The article outlines the purpose and types of resolutions that may be submitted by member chapters.
- JACL Active on Civil Rights Measures, by Karen Narasaki, page 3. JACL has worked with other civil rights organizations to support reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act’s language assistance provisions, which are set to expire without Congressional action. The article details the legislative history and importance of bilingual voting materials for the growing Asian American population.
Community
- Koreatown Relief Launched, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Leaders from Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Asian Indian and Jewish communities came together to support the Koreatown Emergency Relief Fund. Donations can be made through the Korean American Coalition to help rebuild the riot-damaged area.
- Nikkeis Provide Counseling to Riot Victims, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Japanese Americans for L.A. Recovery met to organize assistance for riot victims, offering legal, insurance and counseling help through volunteers from groups like the Japanese American Bar Association. The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center set up the L.A. Recovery Fund to collect and distribute donations to appropriate organizations.
- Getting Relief: Resources for L.A. Riot Victims, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A listing of organizations providing assistance to riot victims, including the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Asian Pacific Counseling Center, and Little Tokyo Service Center. Contact information is provided for legal aid, counseling, and financial assistance.
- Bay Area Groups Criticize Justice System, Media, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Bay Area Asian American groups including JACL and the Asian Law Caucus met to assess the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict, criticizing the LAPD’s slow response and media stereotyping of Korean Americans. The groups called for unity among communities of color to address root causes of the unrest.
- Scholarships Available to Asian and Japanese American Students, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Southern California Asian Nikkei JACL is offering $500 scholarships for Japanese American undergraduates in Los Angeles County. The Asian Pacific Women’s Network is also offering four $1,000 scholarships to women of Asian or Pacific Island ancestry in Southern California.
- Separate J.A. Exhibit to Close Soon, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Section II of the ‘Continuing Traditions: Japanese Americans’ exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum is scheduled to close by the end of May. The exhibit features a diorama of the Manzanar camp created by Hasuike.
- More St. Louis Chapter JACL Activities, by P.C. Staff, page 5. St. Louis JACL member George Hasegawa was honored for his international relations work, including developing the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The chapter also announced a trip to Nagano, Missouri’s sister state, and reported raising $34,600 toward its Legacy Fund goal.
In-Depth
- The Struggle for Redirection, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Asian American community leaders including Stewart Kwoh and Marcia Choo expressed skepticism about the Bush administration’s commitment to rebuilding Los Angeles after the riots, citing a lack of new federal funding and exclusion of Asian Americans from White House meetings. JACL President Cressey Nakagawa emphasized that prejudice reduction and inclusive rebuilding efforts are essential moving forward.
Military & Veterans
- St. Louis Chapter Meets With Jewish Group, by Sherry Shimamoto Pratt, page 5. The St. Louis JACL chapter and the American Jewish Committee held a joint meeting featuring a tribute to the 522nd Field Artillery, which liberated the Dachau death camp in 1945. Speaker Dr. Neil Sandberg compared historical xenophobia faced by European immigrants to prejudice Asian Americans face today.
Sports
- Asian American Athletes to Be Honored in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 5. Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will be honored at the 14th annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month dinner in Los Angeles. Other honorees include table tennis, track and field, taekwondo and swimming athletes recognized for their achievements.
Incarceration & Redress
- Restored Rohwer, New Jerome Camps Scheduled to Be Dedicated, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dedication ceremonies for restored monuments at the Rohwer and Jerome relocation camp sites in Arkansas are scheduled for May 27, 1992, with a banquet the night before in Little Rock. National JACL President Cressey Nakagawa and other dignitaries are expected to attend the events organized to preserve awareness of the camps’ history.
Commentary
- You Won’t Believe This!, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa recounts a series of factually incorrect questions posed by a TV documentary producer researching Japanese American history, including confused claims about Issei repatriation and Tokyo Rose. He expresses alarm that such misinformation originated from a university instructor teaching a course on Japanese immigration.
- Some Thoughts on JACL Restructuring, by Hank Sakai, page 6. Former National Treasurer Hank Sakai criticizes JACL’s repeated Long Range Plans for failing to grow membership and argues for greater financial independence and openness within the organization. He calls for the Pacific Citizen to remain editorially and fiscally independent from the National Director to avoid repeating mistakes of the 1970s.
- The Watts Riot—How It Was Then, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. Honda reflects on the 1965 Watts riot, drawing parallels to the recent L.A. riots, recounting the violence, property damage, and the McCone Commission’s findings. He also recalls a Nisei, Eugene Shimatsu, who was killed by police during the unrest, and shares personal memories of living through the curfew.
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