Militia charges against Japan, immigrant benefits and JACL’s crossroads

Vol. 120, No. 9, May 5, 1995. 12 pages. View this issue

A militia leader’s claim that Japan was behind the Oklahoma City bombing led the news, with a response from JACL National President Denny Yasuhara reported by Gwen Muranaka. Coverage of the April 28-30 tri-district conference in Reno ran alongside it, with reports on JACL finances, a staff reorganization and a conditional peace offer from board members who had called for Yasuhara’s resignation. A call for a National Call-In Day on May 16 against cuts to legal immigrant benefits was also a main subject, as were Asian American studies protests at Northwestern and other campuses.

Elsewhere in the 12 pages are columns by Bill Hosokawa, Bill Marutani, Mei Nakano, Jerry J. Enomoto and Roy Nishikawa, and a profile of Judy Teru Imai, a former Manzanar internee who walked the globe for peace. The Sacramento firebomber who attacked the JACL office received the maximum sentence, and the Smithsonian’s Enola Gay exhibit prompted its director’s resignation.

What’s in this issue

National

• Militia Man Accuses Japan in Oklahoma City Bombing; JACL Officials Respond to Charge, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Michigan Militia commander Norman Olson claimed Japan bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in retaliation for the Tokyo subway gas attack, leading to his removal from command. JACL National President Denny Yasuhara condemned the allegations as dangerous racism and ignorance.
• Call-In Day Urged to Defend Legal Immigrant Benefits, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A coalition of Asian Pacific American groups organized a National Call-In Day for May 16, 1995 to protest congressional proposals denying federal benefits to legal immigrants. The groups urged calls to senators opposing Sen. Alan Simpson’s immigration bill and related welfare reform legislation.
• Smithsonian Director Resigns Over Controversial Enola Gay Exhibit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Martin Harwit, director of the National Air and Space Museum, resigned after a dispute over the planned Enola Gay exhibit commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Veterans groups had criticized the original exhibit for perceived pro-Japanese bias, leading to a scaled-back version.
• Convicted Sacramento Firebomber Gets Maximum Sentence, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Richard Campos, a 19-year-old white supremacist, was sentenced to the maximum 17 years and four months for a series of racially motivated firebombings in Sacramento in 1993, including an attack on the JACL office. JACL leaders including Denny Yasuhara and Sacramento Chapter president Dick Fukushima had urged the judge to impose the maximum penalty.
• Move to Include Asian American Studies Hits More Campuses, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Protests and hunger strikes demanding Asian American studies programs spread from Northwestern University to Stanford, Princeton, and Columbia. Northwestern students continued a hunger strike after the administration’s proposal for temporary course funding was deemed insufficient.
• Clinton to Address Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, by P.C. Staff, page 4. President Bill Clinton is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at a May 18 dinner celebrating the founding of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Institute. The nonprofit institute aims to enhance Asian Pacific American participation in federal policy debates.
• Call-In Day Coalition Details Immigration Concerns, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Leaders from APALC, OCA, APALA, and APIAHF detailed the reasons for the May 16 National Call-In Day opposing legislation that would deny benefits to legal immigrants. They emphasized that immigrants pay taxes, use welfare less than average, and that the bill would shift costs to state and local governments.

JACL

• With ‘Eye on Future,’ Members Discuss New, Old JACL Issues, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The April 28-30 tri-district conference in Reno featured educational sessions, a forum on JACL finances, and continued tension over the organization’s internal divisions. President Denny Yasuhara said JACL was at a ‘crossroads’ but insisted the organization would rise to new heights despite the departure of five staff members.
• Yasuhara Says Affirmative Action Is JACL Priority, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL National President Denny Yasuhara told tri-district conference attendees that affirmative action is the most important civil rights issue facing the organization, particularly in California. He proposed forming ad hoc committees in California districts with national funding to lobby legislators.
• Conditional Peace Plan Offered, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Four National Board members who had called for President Yasuhara’s resignation extended an ‘olive branch’ at the tri-district conference, offering conditions for ending divisions within the board. Yasuhara accepted the offer, saying he would work to match it at the upcoming board meeting.
• Criticism Continues Amid Peace Offer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Despite the olive branch extended by dissident board members, sharp criticism continued throughout the tri-district meeting regarding JACL’s staff reorganization, communication problems, and financial mismanagement. Board members debated accountability, transparency, and the handling of internal disputes in the media.
• JACLers, EEOC Leader Support Northwestern Students, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The JACL National Youth/Student Council, Paul Igasaki of the EEOC, and the Midwest District JACL voiced support for Northwestern University students protesting for Asian American studies programs. The Midwest District Council passed a resolution encouraging JACL support for Asian American studies nationwide.
• Youth Panel Explores How to Attract New Members, by Gwen Muranaka, page 5. Youth and student JACL members discussed strategies for attracting young people to chapters, from leadership training to social events, at the tri-district conference. Panelists shared successful models from South Bay, Sacramento, SELANOCO, and Eden Township chapters.
• Shigemasa, Takahashi, Rafu Shimpo Honored, by P.C. Staff, page 5. At the tri-district awards ceremony, Tom Shigemasa, Mae Takahashi, and the Rafu Shimpo newspaper were honored by the NCWNP, Central California, and PSW districts respectively for their contributions to the Japanese American community. Each honoree was recognized for distinguished service in law enforcement, civic involvement, and journalism.
• Panelists Give Views, Insights Into JACL Financial Situation, by Gwen Muranaka, page 6. A tri-district conference workshop titled ‘JACL financial crisis: An organization at crossroads’ brought together various board members and financial experts to discuss the organization’s fiscal problems. Panelists debated whether JACL had a surplus or deficit depending on cash versus accrual accounting, and stressed the need for a computerized accounting system.
• Criticism Continues Over Finances, Legal Counsel, and PC Coverage, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Continued discussion at the tri-district conference addressed severance negotiations for departed staff, legal fees, and complaints about Pacific Citizen’s coverage of internal JACL disputes. Members like Colbert Matsumoto and Toko Fujii criticized the newspaper’s focus on controversy over other important issues.

In-Depth

• Conference Views WWII Nuclear Legacy, by P.C. Staff, page 4. UCSB hosted a one-day conference titled ‘Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Views After Fifty Years’ exploring the legacy of the decision to use atomic weapons. The event included lectures, artistic performances, and films examining the fiftieth anniversary of the bombings.
• Around the World for Peace, by Gwen Muranaka, page 10. Judy Teru Imai, a former Manzanar internee, walked over 9,000 miles across the globe in a three-and-a-half-year ‘Global Walk for a Livable World,’ carrying the Hiroshima peace flame. Her journey through countries including Cambodia and visits to Auschwitz deepened her convictions about peace and confronted her own fears and anger.

Commentary

• We Must Be Concerned With Anti-Immigration Laws, by Leigh-Ann Miyasato, page 7. In a Viewpoint column, acting JACL Washington representative Leigh-Ann Miyasato argues that Japanese Americans must fight anti-immigrant legislation due to their own history facing discrimination. She details how proposed bills would harm legal immigrants through denial of benefits and drastic cuts to family and employment-based immigration.
• Asian American Voting Unpredictable, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa’s column discusses the growing Asian American voting bloc and Senator D’Amato’s offensive mockery of Judge Lance Ito, noting that Asian Americans are far from a monolithic voting group. He describes varied political leanings across different Asian American communities and generations.
• The Hikiage-sha’s, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Former judge Bill Marutani recounts his postwar experience in Japan screening returning Japanese soldiers and confiscating swords, including a poignant request from a Japanese officer to preserve his family sword. He reflects on later visits to the sites where he served, finding them changed or destroyed.
• Congratulations Due Gila River Committee, by Frank Sakamoto, page 8. Frank Sakamoto praises the Gila River Reunion Committee for organizing a successful event honoring former internees and their descendants. He highlights the achievements of Nisei and their grandchildren across various professions as evidence of the resilience learned from their parents’ values.
• Let’s Support the President, Move Ahead, by Jerry J. Enomoto, page 9. Former JACL national president Jerry Enomoto argues that blaming individuals for JACL’s financial troubles is unproductive and expresses support for President Denny Yasuhara. He criticizes the treasurer’s public call for Yasuhara’s resignation and urges the organization to move forward positively.
• When Will the Attacks Stop?, by Roy Nishikawa, page 9. Former JACL national president Roy Nishikawa criticizes the Rafu Shimpo and dissident board members for their attacks on President Yasuhara, arguing the criticism is based on distorted reporting. He calls for dialogue and reconciliation within JACL to restore trust and unity.
• A-Bomb Revisited, by Mei Nakano, page 9. Mei Nakano reflects on the Smithsonian’s Enola Gay exhibit controversy and various historical perspectives on the necessity of the atomic bombings, including comments from physicist Edward Teller and historian Barton Bernstein. She concludes that dropping the bomb was morally wrong and calls for a U.S. apology.

Military & Veterans

• Militia Threats Draw Response From JACL Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Barry Saiki and Leigh-Ann Miyasato responded to Norman Olson’s allegations blaming Japan for the Oklahoma City bombing, warning of the dangers posed by growing militia movements. Both emphasized the need for vigilance against scapegoating minority groups during times of fear.

Community

• Forum on Aging Set for May 27-28 in S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Nikkei Forum on Aging II, sponsored by Northern California Japanese American Senior Centers, will address topics including fitness, sensuality, and intergenerational communication for Japanese American seniors. The conference will feature keynote speakers including Doris Matsui and Rep. Norman Mineta.
• Free Alzheimer’s Workshop Set for May 20 in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Alzheimer’s Association will hold a free ‘Safe Return Program’ workshop at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles. The program aims to minimize risks for people with memory loss through registration and identification procedures.
• JACL National Singles Event Planned, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The 7th National JACL Singles Convention will be held Sept. 1-3 in Costa Mesa, California, featuring actress Nobu McCarthy and various social activities. The event follows successful previous conventions in Denver and Chicago.

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