Vol. 128, No. 5, March 5, 1999. 12 pages. View this issue
Whether JACL and the Nikkei community should reconcile with the World War II draft resisters was the main story. Martha Nakagawa reported on the divide among veterans, resisters and JACL chapters, and her coverage continued on page 12 with the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee, the mass trial of 63 resisters, and reflections from Frank Emi and Yosh Kuromiya. Caroline Aoyagi covered the expected renomination of Bill Lann Lee for assistant attorney general for civil rights, and Yas Tokita urged JACL to mobilize in his support.
A new lawsuit by three Japanese Latin Americans seeks full redress under the Civil Liberties Act. Other pages cover permits for visiting the Gila River camp sites, two new Day of Remembrance videotapes, and Emiko Omori’s film Rabbit in the Moon, which won at Sundance. Harry K. Honda reproduced the roster of the 1942 JACL emergency council, convened after Executive Order 9066.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- Reconciliation Coming Slowly for Draft Resisters, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. The article examines the ongoing divide within the Nikkei community over reconciliation between JACL, veterans, and the WWII draft resisters. It explores efforts by some JACL chapters to pass resolutions acknowledging the resisters’ patriotism while others remain opposed.
- Ten Year Program to Compensate JA WWII Internees Closes Its Doors, page 3. The Office of Redress Administration’s compensation program for Japanese American internees is winding down after ten years. Remaining Japanese Latin American claimants may still receive payment if additional funding is secured.
- Two New Day of Remembrance Videotapes Released, page 4. Two new videotapes commemorate the Day of Remembrance: ‘Fighting for Justice: The Coram Nobis Cases’ documents the legal history of Yasui, Hirabayashi, and Korematsu cases, while ‘Day of Remembrance: The First National Ceremony’ documents the first national ceremony held in Washington D.C. Both tapes are available for purchase through Media Bridges, Inc.
- Gila River Indian Community Permits Required for Camp Site Visits, page 4. Visitors wishing to see the former Gila River Relocation Center sites must obtain permits from the Gila River Indian Community, with fees typically waived for former internees. The article details permit procedures, museum hours, and information about accessing the Poston camp site memorial as well.
- JACL Wrestles With Question of Reconciliation with Draft Resisters, by Martha Nakagawa, page 12. The article continues coverage of the debate within JACL over whether to formally reconcile with WWII draft resisters, featuring perspectives from veterans, resisters, and JACL leadership on the historical and moral questions involved. It details the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee’s origins, the mass trial of 63 resisters, and reflections from former resisters like Frank Emi and Yosh Kuromiya on whether they would take the same actions again.
National
- Battle Lines Being Drawn in Likely Renomination of Bill Lann Lee, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. President Clinton is expected to renominate Bill Lann Lee for assistant attorney general of civil rights, but Senator Orrin Hatch and other Republicans are already voicing opposition. The article details the political history of Lee’s confirmation battle and the arguments on both sides.
- Newest JLA Lawsuit Seeks Full Redress, page 1. Three Japanese Latin Americans have filed a new lawsuit seeking full redress under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided $20,000 payments to Japanese American internees. The lawsuit argues JLAs continue to be wrongly excluded from the Act’s provisions despite a prior settlement.
- Protest Over Ho Chi Minh Poster Continues in Little Saigon, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Vietnamese Americans in Little Saigon continued protests against a store owner who displayed a Ho Chi Minh poster and communist flag, comparing it to a swastika. Clashes with police occurred during the prolonged vigil, with several arrests made amid tensions over the disputed First Amendment case.
- Bill Lann Lee Renomination Draws Community Support, page 10. Asian American community leaders, including JACL representatives, are mobilizing support for Bill Lann Lee’s renomination to lead the DOJ’s civil rights division. Leaders warn that failure to confirm Lee would be seen as a partisan rejection of the Asian American community and civil rights generally.
JACL
- Civil Liberties Program Selects Project Director, Seats Advisory Board, page 3. The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program named Diane as its program director and seated a 13-member advisory board including notable Asian American figures. The program, created by Assembly member Mike Honda, aims to develop educational curriculum about the WWII internment experience.
- JACL Nat’l Youth/Student Conference Scheduled for June 25-27 in Irvine, page 10. The 1999 JACL National Youth/Student Conference, themed ‘Hey You Guys… Take A Closer Look,’ will be held at UC Irvine from June 25-27. The conference aims to teach leadership skills to over 100 expected participants.
Military & Veterans
- California Funded Program Seeks Volunteers to Preserve 100th/442nd/MIS Veterans Legacy, page 4. The Hanashi: Voice of the Nisei Soldier Oral History Program is recruiting Sansei and Yonsei volunteers to help document veterans’ stories. Founded in 1998 under the 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation, the program seeks assistance in various production areas.
Arts & Entertainment
- Rabbit in the Moon Wins Award at Sundance, Explores Internment Dissent, page 6. Emiko Omori’s documentary Rabbit in the Moon, which examines dissent among internees during WWII incarceration, won best cinematography honors at Sundance. The film features interviews with figures like Mits Koshiyama and Aiko Yoshinaga-Herzig and was funded by several organizations including NAATA.
Commentary
- Interview with Emiko Omori on Making Rabbit in the Moon, page 6. In an interview, filmmaker Emiko Omori discusses her decades-long journey to make Rabbit in the Moon, describing her original vision for a much longer documentary and the personal and political challenges she faced. She also discusses her intent to dispel the ‘model minority’ myth through the film.
- Troubled in Paradise: Keeping Score, by Brian Niiya, page 8. Columnist Brian Niiya writes about a school board member facing a difficult reelection despite notable accomplishments, including advocating for character education and visiting every school in his district. The piece discusses political pressures from Mayor Riordan seeking greater control over the school board.
- A Bridge Across the Pacific: Healing Old Wounds, by Emily Murase, page 8. Emily Murase’s column reflects on healing from historical wounds, referencing Truman-era events and reconciliation efforts. The piece draws connections between past injustices and present-day community healing.
- Very Truly Yours: Roll Call of the 1942 JACL Emergency Council, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry Honda’s column reproduces a historic roster of 165 individuals who attended the 1942 JACL national emergency council session in San Francisco, convened in response to Executive Order 9066. The column details the government officials present and the options debated regarding evacuation.
- Letter: Mills College and Asian American Studies, by Yuri Kochiyama, page 9. Yuri Kochiyama writes a letter criticizing Mills College’s denial of tenure to Professor Masao Suzuki and elimination of its Asian American studies program. She argues this represents a broader attack on ethnic studies and students of color in higher education that must be reversed.
- Letter: Re: Ho Chi Minh Protest, page 9. A letter writer argues that mainstream media coverage of the Ho Chi Minh poster protest in Little Saigon failed to empathize with Vietnamese American refugees’ experiences of persecution. The writer calls for greater education about Vietnamese American history and the atrocities committed under the communist regime.
- Financial Resolutions, by Yale Kofman, page 9. Financial columnist Yale Kofman offers guidance on setting effective financial resolutions, emphasizing attainable, measurable goals and the importance of writing them down. He provides practical examples such as saving for retirement or a home down payment.
- Why We Should Be Politically Active in the Bill Lann Lee Saga, by Yas Tokita, page 10. Yas Tokita argues that the Japanese American community should actively support Bill Lann Lee’s renomination as assistant attorney general for civil rights, detailing the political attacks against him. The column urges JACL to mobilize as it did in 1997 to support Lee’s confirmation.
Obituaries
- George Knox Roth, 92, Protested JA Internment, page 11. George Knox Roth, who publicly protested the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, passed away at age 92 on Feb. 17. A UCLA graduate, Roth was convicted for contempt during his protests and was later honored by JACL for his wartime actions.
- Colonel Thomas Kobayashi, 83, 442nd Veteran, page 11. Colonel Thomas Kobayashi, former deputy chief of staff for the 6th Army, died on Feb. 9 at age 83. A 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran, he received two Purple Hearts and other honors for his service in Europe during WWII.
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