Vol. 128, No. 14, June 25, 1999. 8 pages. View this issue
Angel Island Immigration Station was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of 11 most endangered historic places, and the story led the front page. The paper described the site as a former entry point for thousands of Asian immigrants from 1910 to 1940, now in disrepair. Beside it ran a report on arson fire-bombings of minority-owned businesses and organizations in the Sacramento area, the second such wave in six years, with nearly $1,000,000 in damages. The Department of Justice also resumed processing redress claims for Latin Americans of Japanese ancestry after the Mochizuki settlement, though most applicants had not yet been paid.
Elsewhere in these eight pages, nominations were sought for camp representatives to attend the National Japanese American Memorial groundbreaking in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22. A Manzanar High School reunion was announced for Oct. 25-27. Letters on page 7 protested a cartoon, and one writer opposed a JACL resolution on draft resisters.
What’s in this issue
National
- Angel Island Immigration Station Makes List of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Angel Island Immigration Station, a former entry point for thousands of Asian immigrants from 1910-1940, was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of 11 most endangered historic places. The site, once called the ‘Ellis Island of the West Coast,’ has fallen into disrepair due to underfunding of the California State Park system despite its 1997 National Historic Landmark status.
- Hate-fueled Fire-bombings Hit Sac’to for 2nd Time in 6 Years, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Sacramento area was hit by a series of arson fire-bombings targeting minority-owned businesses and organizations, causing nearly $1,000,000 in damages. This marks the second time in six years that Sacramento has experienced such hate-fueled attacks.
- Rep. Matsui Appointed to Smithsonian Board of Regents, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Congressman Robert Matsui was appointed to the Smithsonian Board of Regents. Matsui was noted as one of the congressmen who introduced welfare reform legislation designed to move recipients from welfare to work through training and education.
- LCEF and LCCR Announce New Project on Immigration, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Leadership Conference Education Fund and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights launched a major immigration rights education campaign addressing harm caused to legal and undocumented immigrants by federal immigration law. Former JACL Washington D.C. representative Bob Sakaniwa was hired to head the project.
- Family of Fired Scientist Subpoenaed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A federal grand jury in Albuquerque, N.M. required a Cantonese, Mandarin, and Taishan translator for proceedings related to fired scientist Wen Ho Lee, who has not been charged with a crime but has denied allegations reported against him. U.S. Attorney John J. Kelly declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.
- $80 Billion State Budget Includes Monies for JA Community Organizations JANM and LTSC, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California’s state budget of $80 billion includes funding earmarked for Japanese American community organizations including the Japanese American National Museum and the Little Tokyo Service Center. The budget subcommittee, chaired by an Assembly member, also addressed issues affecting a million more motorists a year.
- California Democratic Party Creates APA Leadership Council, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The California Democratic Party established an Asian Pacific American Leadership Council. The move is intended to give APA constituents a greater leadership role within the party.
Incarceration & Redress
- Department of Justice Resumes Processing JLA Redress Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Department of Justice resumed processing redress claims for Latin Americans of Japanese ancestry who were abducted and interned in the U.S. during WWII, following the settlement of the Mochizuki v. U.S. class action lawsuit. However, most applicants have yet to be paid due to a lack of money in the Civil Liberties fund.
- Camp Representatives Sought to Participate in National Japanese American Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Nominations are being sought for representatives from each of the 10 War Relocation Authority camps to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22, 1999. Applicants must have been interned in one of the camps and meet several eligibility requirements including submitting a statement of contribution to the Japanese American community.
- Historian Concludes Successful Visit to Utah, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A historian completed a successful visit to Utah as part of research or educational efforts related to Japanese American history. Details of the visit’s purpose and findings were part of ongoing documentation efforts.
- Historic Angel Island Named to Most Endangered List, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Continuing coverage details that redress applicants have sent letters to the U.S. government asking that their claim information be shared, with documents including forms for such requests. The article also lists other historic sites nationwide that made the National Trust’s most endangered list, including Ellis Island Baggage and Dormitory Building and San Diego’s Arts & Warehouse District.
Military & Veterans
- New Army Reserve Center to be Named After Ken Uchida, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The U.S. Army Reserve plans to name its new Salt Lake City Center after the late Ken Uchida of Ogden, Utah, who was honored during Memorial Day services at Fort Douglas. Uchida, a prewar GI investigated as a security risk due to his parents’ roles at a Japanese language school, was later active in JACL leadership and the Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
JACL
- Successful Fund-raiser by the Greater LA Singles Chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Greater L.A. Singles Chapter of JACL presented a check for $6,160 to the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation at their June 11 meeting in Gardena. NJAMF national treasurer Mike Shimizu reported a surge in donations reaching a total of $7.5 million as of June 1.
- ‘An American Story: From the Bill of Rights to Redress,’ San Mateo’s Teacher Training Workshop, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Almost 40 teachers and administrators participated in a training workshop in San Mateo focused on teaching the Japanese American World War II experience. National JACL education committee members presented historical background and curriculum materials, including a resource guide titled ‘The Japanese American Experience: A Lesson in American History.’
Arts & Entertainment
- East West Players Receives $100,000 Grant From Edison International, by P.C. Staff, page 5. East West Players received a $100,000 grant from Edison International’s Arts for the Community program to support its educational and community outreach efforts. The theater company, now located at the Union Center for the Arts in Little Tokyo, continues to give voice to Asian Pacific American stories through diverse performances.
- ‘Word Up!’ Festival of Asian American Performance July 8-18 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Mark Taper Forum’s Asian Theatre Workshop and East West Players present ‘Word Up!’, a festival featuring nine performance pieces by top Los Angeles Asian American artists exploring the Asian American experience. The festival runs July 8-18 with solo works and ensemble pieces covering topics from biracial family life to satirical looks at Hollywood.
Community
- Manzanar High School Reunion Set for Oct. 25-27, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Manzanar High School reunion will be held Oct. 25-27, bringing together former internees connected to the camp’s history. The event is planned in coordination with related community and museum activities.
Commentary
- P.C. Cartoon Continues to Draw Protests, by Renta Takeamonrt and others, page 7. Multiple readers wrote letters to the Pacific Citizen protesting a cartoon titled ‘Chinese Carryouts’ by Pete Hironaka, which depicted stereotypical imagery related to Chinese nuclear espionage allegations. Letter writers argued the cartoon was in poor taste, perpetuated harmful stereotypes, and was especially inappropriate given the history of similar prejudice against Japanese Americans.
- Draft Resisters, page 7. A veteran writes to oppose a JACL resolution apologizing to WWII draft resisters, arguing it would be unjust to the 30,000 Japanese Americans who served in uniform. The writer contends that honoring resisters at this point would diminish the honor and memory of those who served and calls on other veterans to voice opposition to the resolution.
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