Family immigration, AP community growth and new JACL leaders

Vol. 122, No. 7, April 5, 1996. 12 pages. View this issue

Immigration led the news in this 12-page issue. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-4 for an amendment by Sens. Kennedy, Abraham, Simon and DeWine that kept most family preferences, rejecting Sen. Alan Simpson’s sharper cuts. Also on the front page was a UCLA and LEAP report on the growth, businesses and voting of the Asian Pacific American community, along with a reception where the Pacific Southwest District welcomed Herbert Yamanishi, Albert Muratsuchi and Robert Sakaniwa.

The 27th Manzanar Pilgrimage was set for April 27. Bill Hosokawa wrote on the press and the right to know, Bill Marutani on running as an Asian American candidate, and Mae Takahashi on whether the paper should return to weekly editions. A letter asked that the Civil Liberties Act education fund be kept at its full amount. Chapter news came from Florin, Santa Maria Valley, Seattle, New Mexico and St. Louis.

What’s in this issue

National

• Senate Committee Votes to Save Most Family Immigration, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed an amendment by Sens. Kennedy, Abraham, Simon and DeWine that modified a proposal to reduce family immigration, preserving most family preferences while making modest cuts. The amendment rejected Sen. Alan Simpson’s more severe proposal that would have sharply reduced family immigration categories.
• What’s Growing Fast, Creating Wealth and Voting? It’s the AP Community, Study Says, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 300-plus-page report from UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center and LEAP details the rapid growth of the Asian Pacific American community, its entrepreneurship, and voting behavior. The report, based on research from 16 scholars, was released at a national press conference in Washington, D.C.
• Asian American Candidates Do Well in March 26 Primaries, page 5. Incumbents Rep. Robert Matsui and Rep. Jay Kim appear likely to continue their congressional terms after strong primary showings, while Nao Takasugi and Mike Honda won their California State Assembly primaries. The article also notes a Los Angeles Times report on Laurie Campbell, an Asian American candidate whose ethnic background was not identified in coverage of a special election controversy.

JACL

• PSW Reception: JACL National, Regional, D.C. Directors Welcomed by District, by Staff reports, page 1. More than 100 members of the Pacific Southwest District attended a reception at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center welcoming new JACL leaders Herbert Yamanishi, Albert Muratsuchi, and Robert Sakaniwa. Each leader spoke about issues facing the organization, including affirmative action and rebuilding JACL’s chapter network.
• Albert Muratsuchi Named New PSW Regional Director, page 1. Albert Y. Muratsuchi officially became regional director of the Pacific Southwest District of JACL on March 4, succeeding Jimmy Tokeshi. In a Q&A with Pacific Citizen, Muratsuchi discusses his background, priorities including fighting the California Civil Rights Initiative and supporting affirmative action, and his vision for developing new leadership within JACL.
• JACL Seeks Nominations for JA of the Biennium Award, page 3. JACL’s Japanese American of the Biennium Committee, chaired by Eileen Namba Otsuji, announced that nomination forms are now available for the prestigious award honoring Japanese Americans for outstanding achievements. Nominations must be postmarked by May 1, 1996, with the award to be presented at the 34th Biennial JACL National Convention in San Jose.
• National Update, by Herbert Yamanishi, page 4. JACL National Director Herbert Yamanishi provides updates on new staff hires at national headquarters, the Los Angeles regional office, and the Washington D.C. office, including Amy Yamashiro, Deirdre Howard, Albert Muratsuchi, and Robert Sakaniwa. He also discusses progress on the 1996 Biennial Convention, including delays in finalizing election and resolution procedures.
• JACL Yasui Speech Contest Now Open to College Students, page 4. The Mineru Yasui Oratorical competition guidelines have been expanded to include full-time college students in addition to high school students, with only one prize now awarded due to budget constraints. District and regional preliminary competitions will determine finalists, with winners due at National Headquarters by July 15.
• Welcome (Muratsuchi and Sakaniwa Remarks Continued), page 10. Continuing coverage of the PSW reception, this piece details Muratsuchi’s call for JACL to build alliances and heal internal divisions, and Sakaniwa’s emphasis on defending citizenship rights and holding politicians accountable. Both leaders stressed the importance of transferring leadership between generations.

Incarceration & Redress

• 27th Trek to Manzanar Is Set for April 27 as Site Is Developed, page 5. The 27th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, themed ‘Bridging Generations: Moving Forward,’ will be held April 27 at the Manzanar National Historic Site, featuring tours guided by former internees and a program update from National Park Service superintendent Ross Hopkins. Organizers say the current anti-immigrant sentiment echoes the racism that led to WWII incarceration, and the event will address parallels to today’s political climate.

Community

• Naturalization Program Begun by APA Group, page 5. The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium launched a naturalization program to assist Asian Pacific Americans with citizenship and voter registration, funded by several major foundations. The program includes citizenship workshop training, multilingual materials, and video resources to counter anti-immigrant legislative proposals.
• NCWNPDC Call: ‘Give Me Five!’, page 6. The NCWNP District Council executive board launched a ‘Give Me Five!’ campaign urging its 10,000 members to contribute $5 each to help JACL return to financial health. The campaign could raise nearly $50,000 for National JACL.
• Hapa Issues Forum Slated for April 13, page 6. The third annual Hapa Issues Forum will be held at UC Berkeley featuring panel discussions and workshops on topics including gender, affirmative action, and mixed-race identity. Panelist Maggie Gabel, a Berkeley JACL board member and Cherry Blossom Festival Queen candidate, said the forum promotes acceptance of multiracial heritage.
• Florin Stages ‘Remembrance’, by Bill Kashiwagi, page 6. More than 250 people attended the 14th Annual Time of Remembrance at Florin Buddhist Church, featuring guest speaker Georgiana White and honoring local pioneers and community friends including Roy Herburger. Ten local Issei and Nisei pioneers were presented with books of their oral history interviews during the event.
• Santa Maria Valley Chapter Returns, by Marsy Honda, page 6. The Santa Maria Valley JACL chapter reactivated with a dinner meeting attended by over 120 members and interested Nikkei, electing Milt Yoshiyama as president. Guest speaker Harry K. Honda summarized recent JACL activities, and local history of Issei and Nisei pioneers in the farming community was discussed.
• Gila Relocation Center Helps School, page 7. The Gila River Relocation Center Monument Project Committee donated $10,000 to the Sacaton School District in Arizona to enhance computer activities and purchase related equipment. The gift was presented by Masaji Inoshita and Joe Allman of the Arizona Chapter JACL and accepted by school board members.
• Seattle Installation Features Yamashita, by Arlene Oki, page 7. Marine Reserves Captain Bruce Yamashita spoke at the Seattle Chapter’s 74th annual dinner about the racism he overcame to achieve officer status at the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Training Academy. The event also honored community members including Bob Shimabukuro, May Namba, Fumiko Maeshiro, Judge Thomas Haven, and Russell Akiyama, and installed new chapter officers.
• New Mexico to Mark 20th Anniversary, page 7. The New Mexico Chapter, JACL, will celebrate its 20th anniversary on June 22 at the Albuquerque Marriott Hotel. The chapter was originally founded in the 1950s, disbanded in 1956, and was re-established in 1975 through the efforts of Tazue Yonemoto Akutagawa and others.
• St. Louis Chapter Marks 50th Event, by Mike Hoshiko, page 7. Mike Kimzey was installed as the 50th president of the St. Louis Chapter, JACL, by National President Denny Yasuhara, with founding president Sam Nakano honored for his long service. A special anniversary booklet and pin were presented to attendees, along with a 50-year memory lane slide show.
• API Caucus to Hold Reception During Democrats’ Event, page 12. The Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of the California Democratic Party will hold its first fundraising reception during the state party convention on April 13 in Los Angeles, aiming to increase visibility for Asian Pacific Islanders. Congressman Bob Matsui will serve as an honorary host for the event.

Commentary

• The Right to Know, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. In a dialogue-style column, Hosokawa explores why Pacific Citizen readers perceive less ‘negative’ news, ultimately concluding it may reflect that JACL has fewer problems needing exposure rather than a policy shift. He connects this to the constitutional principle protecting the press’s role in informing citizens of wrongdoing so it can be corrected.
• The Asian Candidacy, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Former judge Bill Marutani reflects on his experience as an Asian American candidate for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, sharing strategies he used to address his ethnicity directly with voters through humor and forthright acknowledgment. He describes specific ‘ice-breaker’ techniques tailored to different audiences to overcome racial bias while campaigning.
• Redress Education Fund Be Restored to Full Amount, page 8. A letter writer, former chair of JACL’s National Redress Committee, argues that the $50 million educational fund established by the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 should not be reduced to $5 million to pay newly eligible redress recipients. The writer urges JACL to protest the reduction and calls on the government to find additional funds rather than cutting the educational fund.
• Clarifies Life of Late War Hero Richard Sakakida, by Henry Wakabayashi, page 8. The president of the Japanese American Veterans Association of Washington, D.C. writes to clarify that unproven guerrilla claims about Richard Sakakida’s WWII service in the Philippines were reported by Pacific Citizen without endorsement. The letter recommends Dr. Wayne Kiyosaki’s book for accurate documentation of Sakakida’s story.
• Coming Full Circle: Should the PC Return to Weekly Editions?, by Mae Takahashi, page 9. The PC Editorial Board chair examines the financial history and current budget of the Pacific Citizen, comparing costs of semi-monthly versus weekly publication. She proposes an $8 per member dues increase to fund a return to weekly publication and asks members to vote on the proposal.
• Rules of Procedure, by Karl Nobuyuki, page 9. The credentials chair for the 1996 Biennial Convention explains key elements of parliamentary procedure under Robert’s Rules, emphasizing that motions conflicting with existing rules or bylaws are null and void even if adopted unanimously. He urges delegates preparing for the National Convention to understand these procedural safeguards to avoid past controversies.

Obituaries

• George Masuo Ushiyama, page 11. George Masuo Ushiyama, 78, of Rocky Ford, Colorado, passed away March 1; he served in the Army Military Intelligence Service during WWII and was an active member of JACL, VFW, American Legion, and the Elks. He also supported Boys and Girls Scouts and served as a Keyman for the Koshare Indian Dancers.
• Chizuye Izuno, page 11. Chizuye Izuno, 77, of San Diego, passed away January 5; born in Santa Rosa, she was a longtime resident of Nihonmachi Terrace in San Francisco. She was the widow of Masaichi Izuno and is survived by her daughter, grandchildren, and siblings in California and Japan.

In-Depth

• Scholarship Fund Established in Memory of Helen Mineta, page 12. The Helen Mineta Scholarship Fund was established at the University of California Club of Santa Clara County in memory of Helen Mineta, sister of former Congressman Norman Mineta, who died March 18 of lung cancer at age 77. Mineta was a longtime teacher, community activist, and advisor who played a significant role among JACL pioneers ahead of the National JACL Convention.

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