Vol. 114, No. 25, June 26, 1992. 8 pages. View this issue
The Wards Cove case led the news. Six Asian American organizations, including JACL, filed an amicus brief for about 2,000 Native Alaskan and Asian American plaintiffs suing Wards Cove Packing Co., which had been declared exempt from the Civil Rights Act of 1991. Lead counsel Stephen C. Chin argued the exemption violates equal protection. Also on the front page, two Japanese American teenage brothers were hurt in a Huntington Beach attack that police are investigating as a possible hate crime.
Most of the front page went to JACL’s coming election. Candidate statements appear from Neal Taniguchi, Gail Kaneko, S. Floyd Mori, Lisa Murakawa and Ilan Nishi for vice president, from two presidential candidates, and from two Youth Council candidates. Page 5 carries Hank Tanaka’s reply to critics of the proposed reorganization, and an open letter to a Japanese professor on the Los Angeles riots.
What’s in this issue
National
- Amicus Brief Filed in Wards Cove Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Six Asian American organizations, including JACL, filed an amicus brief on behalf of about 2,000 Native Alaskan and Asian American plaintiffs suing Wards Cove Packing Co., which was declared exempt from the Civil Rights Act of 1991. Lead counsel Stephen C. Chin argued the exemption violates constitutional principles of equal protection and separation of powers.
- Two JA Youths Hurt With Anti-Theft Device, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two Japanese American teenage brothers were injured in a Huntington Beach attack by three white men who used an anti-theft device called ‘the Club’ as a weapon while allegedly shouting racial slurs. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime, and one brother required 16 stitches for head injuries while the other suffered a large leg gash.
JACL
- Taniguchi: Candidate for VP, General Operations, by Neal Taniguchi, page 1. Neal Taniguchi, running unopposed for JACL Vice President of General Operations, describes his 15 years of JACL experience including roles as administrative director and Berkeley chapter president. He advocates for annual reports, function/program budgeting, dedicated Pacific Citizen space for board activities, and clearer roles for staff and board.
- Kaneko: Candidate for VP, Public Affairs, by Gail Kaneko, page 1. Gail Kaneko discusses the worsening climate for Asian Americans due to Japan-bashing, the Pearl Harbor anniversary, and the Rodney King riots. She calls for JACL to be a decisive, forceful leader on civil rights issues rather than a timid organization.
- Mori: Candidate for VP, Planning & Development, by S. Floyd Mori, page 1. Floyd Mori argues that with redress largely achieved, JACL must now focus on planning for the future through its long range planning process. He stresses that JACL must remain a civil rights leader amid Japan-bashing and racial tensions.
- Murakawa: Candidate for VP, Planning & Development, by Lisa Murakawa, page 1. Lisa Murakawa outlines objectives for the VP of Planning and Development role, including implementing the National Program for Action, adopting SCOS recommendations, measuring JACL’s effectiveness, and creating a volunteer development and training program. She emphasizes building the skills of JACL’s volunteer corps to remain an effective civil rights organization.
- Nishi: Candidate for VP, Membership, by Ilan Nishi, page 1. Ilan Nishi emphasizes the need for recruitment of new members and development of future JACL leaders during a generational transition. He stresses improving communication between national and chapter levels to better convey JACL’s benefits to current and potential members.
- Kimura: Candidate for National President, by Kimura, page 1. A presidential candidate reflects on JACL’s progress under outgoing leadership, citing strengthened staff operations, fund-raising for an endowment, and efforts to pass amendments to the Civil Liberties Act of 1986. The candidate lays out a vision for a strong, proactive JACL committed to fighting racism and building coalitions.
- Saito: Candidate for National President, by Saito, page 1. Presidential candidate Saito envisions JACL’s next biennium addressing the completion of redress payments, combating anti-Asian violence and Japan-bashing, and continuing the Legacy Fund campaign. Saito calls for building bridges with other ethnic communities and improving communication between chapters, districts, and the national board.
- Tachiki: Candidate for Youth Council, by Tachiki, page 1. A Youth Council candidate discusses priorities including membership recruitment, developing a marketing plan for chapter membership chairs, and increasing youth involvement in JACL. The candidate reflects on lessons from the JACL Washington D.C. Leadership Conference about the need for JACL to be more politically visible and sophisticated.
- Nakahara: Candidate for Youth Council, by Nakahara, page 1. A Youth Council candidate lists priorities including monitoring hate crimes, media monitoring, addressing Japan-bashing, coalition building, and advocacy training. The candidate also proposes membership recruitment campaigns, youth and student-oriented programs, internships, voter registration drives, and higher education advocacy.
Commentary
- ‘American Nightmare’: A Letter to a Japanese Colleague, page 5. The author writes an open letter responding to Japanese professor Kaname Saruya’s essay blaming Cold War spending for the Los Angeles riots and America’s social problems. The author counters that America’s problems stem from a loss of pride and moral values rather than simply a lack of spending, while agreeing the Rodney King verdict was troubling.
- A Response on Organization Structure, by Hank Tanaka, page 5. Hank Tanaka of the Select Committee on Organization Structure responds to criticism from Hank Sakai and Denny Yasuhara regarding proposed JACL organizational changes. He explains the rationale behind new district representative positions, financial development and communications VP roles, and at-large board members who need not be JACL members.
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