Anti-recall campaigns and the Patriot Act, October 2003

Vol. 137, No. 7, October 3, 2003. 12 pages. View this issue

California’s recall election and the Patriot Act shared the front page of this 12-page issue. The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans launched a website urging a “no” vote on the recall of Gov. Gray Davis, and Asian Pacific Americans for an Informed California vowed to keep fighting Proposition 54. JACL announced it will join an ACLU lawsuit over Section 215 of the Patriot Act, with John Tateishi explaining why a civil rights organization should take part. National President Floyd Mori also said JACL will explore a constitutional convention in 2005.

Elsewhere, Alayne Yonemoto wrote about the gala dinner honoring Norman Mineta, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Rep. Robert Matsui and Rep. Mike Honda, and Bill Marutani took apart the wartime claim of “protective custody.” Readers will also find the 2004 JACL scholarship announcement, an Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride report, census figures from Los Angeles County, and a sports page with Michelle Wie and K.J. Choi.

What’s in this issue

National

• Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Launches Anti-Recall Website, by P.C. Staff, page 1. CAPA launched a website urging Asian Pacific Americans to vote no on the recall of Gov. Gray Davis, listing over 150 APA leaders opposed to the recall. CAPA leaders argue the recall is costly and threatens APA political representation, while Davis has appointed a record number of APAs to state positions.
• APAIC Vows to Continue Fight Against Prop. 54, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Asian Pacific Americans for an Informed California vowed to continue opposing Proposition 54, which would ban government collection of racial data, after the Ninth Circuit reinstated the Oct. 7 recall election. Advocates expressed concern over error-prone punch card ballots and urged voters to reject the measure.
• JACL to Join ACLU Lawsuit Challenging U.S.A. Patriot Act, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. JACL announced it will file an amicus brief supporting an ACLU lawsuit challenging Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which expands FBI power to secretly obtain personal records. Executive Director John Tateishi said joining the suit is the right thing to do for a civil rights organization, despite potential increased government scrutiny of JACL.
• Freedom Rides Set to Bring Awareness to Plight of Immigrants, by Associated Press, page 3. Nearly 900 participants boarded buses in a cross-country Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, inspired by the 1960s civil rights Freedom Rides, to raise awareness about undocumented immigrants and labor issues. The riders planned rallies in over 100 communities before converging in Washington, D.C. and New York.
• Census: L.A. County Has Fastest Growing Population of Asians, by Associated Press, page 3. New census figures show Los Angeles County has the fastest growing Asian population in the U.S., reaching 1.3 million. Other California counties and states like Colorado and New Mexico also saw significant increases in their Asian populations.
• Albuquerque City Council Opposes Portions of Patriot Act, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. The Albuquerque City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing parts of the USA Patriot Act, joining other cities nationwide. The resolution directs city employees to avoid assisting investigations that violate civil rights and calls for monitoring of the law’s implementation.
• Inouye Scheduled to Undergo Shoulder Surgery Next Month, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Sen. Daniel Inouye is scheduled to undergo partial left shoulder replacement surgery in October but is not expected to miss Senate business. Inouye lost his right arm in WWII combat as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and was later awarded the Medal of Honor.
• Shinseki, Dole and Mineta Honored by NJAMF, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation honored Gen. Eric Shinseki, Sen. Robert Dole, and Norman Mineta at its inaugural gala in Washington, D.C. Each received awards recognizing their contributions to patriotism, constitutional rights, and awareness of Japanese American history.
• Slim Majority Favor Ban on Affirmative Action, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A poll found 52 percent of Michigan voters support a constitutional amendment banning affirmative action, following U.S. Supreme Court rulings on University of Michigan admissions policies. Activist Ward Connerly is campaigning to put a similar measure on Michigan’s 2004 ballot.
• Judge Finds Laguna Hills Man Insane at Time of Racial Slaying, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A judge ruled that Christopher Hearn was legally insane when he fatally stabbed Asian teenager Kenneth Chiu out of racial hatred in 2001. Testimony showed Hearn’s racist beliefs worsened as he developed schizophrenia, leading him to believe he was ordered to kill dangerous people.
• Website Article Continued: Davis Appointments and Anti-Recall Details, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Continuation coverage details Gov. Davis’s record of APA appointments, including the first APA cabinet member and first Vietnamese American Superior Court judge. CAPA also notes bills Davis signed benefiting the APA community, including anti-hate crimes programs and retroactive high school diplomas for WWII internees.
• APAIC Continued: APIsCAN Joins Fight Against Prop. 54, by P.C. Staff, page 9. APIsCAN joined APAIC in urging voters to reject Proposition 54, arguing that racial data collection remains necessary to address disparities in jobs, education, and healthcare. Co-chair Mary Anne Foo said defeating the measure would help ensure equitable public services.
• Patriot Act Continued: JACL Prepares Educational Materials, by P.C. Staff, page 9. JACL legal counsel Michelle Yoshida noted that Patriot Act Section 215 provisions sunset in 2005 but could be extended under a proposed second Patriot Act. JACL is preparing materials for its chapters to explain the impacts of both Patriot Act I and II.

JACL

• JACL to Explore Holding Constitutional Convention in 2005, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. JACL National President Floyd Mori announced plans to explore holding a constitutional convention in 2005 to address structural and financial challenges facing the organization. A committee headed by David Hayashi was appointed to study the issue and report back within three months.
• JACL Announces the 2004 National JACL Scholarship Program, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL announced deadlines and procedures for its 2004 scholarship program, including a March 1 postmark deadline for freshman applications and April 1 for other scholarships. A new ‘JACL Involvement’ section was added to applications to better document applicants’ JACL activities.
• National Board Debates Hawaii Convention Budget and Financial Measures, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The JACL national board debated the large budget for the 2004 Hawaii convention, with concerns raised about unprecedented revenue targets and potential liability if goals aren’t met. The board also reviewed financial improvements including a projected surplus, membership growth, and fundraising results from the Mid-Year Campaign and youth conference.

Commentary

• Recent Controversies Highlight Debate About Race’s Role in Comedy, by Associated Press, page 3. A series of incidents involving comedians and race, including the Fox show ‘Banzai!’ and jokes targeting various ethnic groups, has sparked debate over where humor crosses into insult. Comedians and critics discussed double standards in racial comedy and the increasing willingness of minorities to speak out against offensive portrayals.
• A Very Special Evening, by Alayne Yonemoto, page 8. The dinner committee chair reflects on JACL’s gala dinner honoring Norman Mineta, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Rep. Robert Matsui, and Rep. Mike Honda, attended by over 800 people. She thanks the many staff, volunteers, and sponsors who made the historic event possible.
• Protective Custody, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Columnist Bill Marutani examines and refutes the wartime justification that Japanese American internment was for their own ‘protective custody,’ citing the CWRIC report’s conclusion that this explanation was an afterthought. He also highlights the forced removal of Japanese Latin Americans to U.S. camps as evidence the roundups were more about creating human pawns for prisoner exchanges than protection.

Community

• APAs in the News: Awards, Appointments, Announcements, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dr. Yung Duk Kim was elected chairperson of the Asian American Federation of New York board after serving as vice chairperson. Eric K. Noji was honored with the Woodrow Wilson Award for his role developing the national biodefense system after Sept. 11.
• Bruce Yamashita to Appear at Book Launch, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Capt. Bruce Yamashita will appear at a Honolulu event launching his autobiography and a documentary film about his five-year legal battle against racial discrimination in the U.S. Marine Corps. Yamashita was disenrolled from Officer Candidate School in 1989 due to racial harassment but later won reinstatement as captain and changes to Marine Corps policy.
• San Jose JACL Awards Scholarships Totalling $12,350, by P.C. Staff, page 5. San Jose JACL awarded scholarships to nine recipients at a luncheon held at Wesley United Methodist Church. Recipients included Kristen Kurimoto, Naoya Kanai, Lisa Iijima, and others receiving various named scholarships totaling $12,350.

Sports

• Choi Wins Linde German Masters in European Debut, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. K.J. Choi won the Linde German Masters in his European Tour debut, carding a four-round total of 26-under-par 262. The South Korean golfer collected three birdies, two bogeys, and two eagles in a tournament that drew nine Ryder Cup players.
• First-ever Sumo Exhibition in South Korea Rescheduled for Next February, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Japan’s sumo association rescheduled its first-ever exhibition tournament in South Korea for February 2004 after it was postponed due to the SARS outbreak. The event is seen as part of efforts to improve relations between Japan and South Korea through sports exchanges.
• Wie Still Confident After Missing Cut, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. 13-year-old Michelle Wie missed the cut in her second appearance in a men’s professional golf tournament at the Boise Open but remained confident about her improving game. She finished 12-over 142, showing composure and skill despite erratic putting throughout the event.
• UNLV 33, Hawaii 22, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. UNLV defeated Hawaii 33-22 by capitalizing on six Hawaii turnovers, with kicker Dillon Pieffer converting four field goals to tie a school record. Hawaii coach June Jones lamented his team’s lack of discipline in the loss.
• Japan’s Tamura Wins Sixth Straight Title at Judo Worlds, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Japan’s Ryoko Tamura won a record sixth consecutive world judo title in the under-106 pound class at the world championships in Osaka. Host Japan finished the tournament with six gold medals, well ahead of second-place South Korea.

Obituaries

• Masaye Uriu Yamada, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Masaye Uriu Yamada, 88, passed away in Dallas after a series of strokes, remembered for her love of music, Ikebana, and her vivacious personality. Born in Berryessa, Calif., she married Paul Yamada in 1943 and later earned a college degree in her late 60s before pursuing many cultural arts.

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