Vol. 138, No. 1, January 16, 2004. 16 pages. View this issue
Civil rights and public office ran through this 16-page issue. The front page reported that Kamala Harris was sworn in as San Francisco’s district attorney, and that Glenn Yamahiro became Wisconsin’s first Asian American judge. Associated Press stories followed a Michigan ballot initiative aimed at affirmative action and a reporter’s refusal to name his sources in Wen Ho Lee’s lawsuit. JACL National President Floyd Mori wrote about a meeting with Marshall Sumida and the work of Nisei veterans in civil rights causes. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi wrote to congressional leaders about the Patriot Act and drew parallels to the World War II incarceration (often called internment).
Elsewhere, Harry K. Honda surveyed books about Nikkei from 1892 to 2003. JACL honored Paul M. Igasaki for his years at the EEOC, announced the Min Yasui Oratorical Contest for the 2004 convention in Honolulu, and opened bids for the 2006 national convention. Gila River veteran Masaji Inoshita’s induction into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame also appeared.
What’s in this issue
National
- First Indian American Sworn in as S.F. District Attorney, by Associated Press, page 1. Kamala Harris was sworn in as San Francisco’s district attorney, becoming California’s first district attorney of Indian and black descent. She defeated incumbent Terence Hallinan, pledging to be a compassionate but firm prosecutor while opposing the death penalty and three-strikes life sentences for nonviolent offenders.
- Reporter Declines to Reveal Sources for Wen Ho Lee Stories, by Associated Press, page 1. Associated Press reporter H. Josef Hebert refused to disclose his sources despite a federal judge’s order, during a deposition related to Wen Ho Lee’s lawsuit against the government. Lee is suing the Departments of Energy and Justice for allegedly leaking private information to reporters, and the case tests reporters’ rights to protect sources.
- Battle Over Affirmative Action Heats Up in Michigan, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. A ballot initiative in Michigan seeks to ban affirmative action in university admissions and government hiring, sparking debate between supporters who call it a matter of equality and opponents who say it threatens civil rights gains. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, backed by Ward Connerly’s group, faces legal challenges from groups like BAMN as it seeks enough signatures for the November ballot.
- Wisconsin’s First Asian American Judge Sworn In, by Associated Press, page 1. Glenn Yamahiro was sworn in as Wisconsin’s first Asian American judge, appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle to the Milwaukee County bench. Yamahiro, who has faced racism personally, discusses his approach to balancing public safety with rehabilitation in the courts.
- JACL Responds to Revelation: Patriot Act Author Now Has Concerns, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Viet Dinh, a chief architect of the Patriot Act, has expressed concerns about the government’s detention of American citizens as enemy combatants, particularly in the case of Jose Padilla. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi sent letters to congressional leaders urging reexamination of the Patriot Act’s civil liberties implications, drawing parallels to the WWII Japanese American internment.
Commentary
- Moving Forward, Remaining Relevant, by Floyd Mori, page 1. JACL National President Floyd Mori reflects on a meeting with longtime JACL leader Marshall Sumida in San Francisco, highlighting the dedication of Nisei veterans to civil rights causes. Mori emphasizes JACL’s continuing role in fighting hatred and discrimination as older leaders age and pass on their legacy.
- Letters to the Editor, by Various, page 2. Readers respond to previous Pacific Citizen columns, including a tribute to John Nason’s work with interned students and a personal family history connected to early Japanese students at Yale. Other letters discuss concerns about declining JACL membership, perceived partisan bias, and encourage readers to apply for CCLPEP grants.
JACL
- JACL Commends Igasaki for His Service at EEOC, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL passed a resolution honoring Paul M. Igasaki for his years of service at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, praising his advocacy for civil rights and the Asian Pacific American community. Igasaki served on the EEOC from 1994 to 2002 and was the first APA to hold several leadership positions there.
- JACL’s Plan: 2004, by Ryan Chin, V.P. Membership, page 3. JACL Vice President of Membership Ryan Chin outlines the organization’s 2004 priorities amid ongoing economic struggles, focusing on membership, education/advocacy, and fundraising. He explains the board’s rationale for program prioritization to maintain fiscal responsibility while avoiding further staff cuts.
- ‘Celebrating the Generations’: NCWNP District Gala Celebrates JACL’s 75th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The NCWNP district will hold a gala dinner March 27 in Danville, California, celebrating JACL’s 75th anniversary and honoring unsung chapter heroes. George Takei will serve as keynote speaker and Jan Yanehiro as emcee at the fundraising event held at the Blackhawk Museum.
- JACL Nat’l Youth/Student Council Announces Min Yasui Oratorical Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The national JACL youth/student council announced the Min Yasui Oratorical Contest, to be held during the 2004 national convention in Honolulu, with district competitions leading to the national event. Speakers will address the challenges facing JACL youth in combating hate crimes against Asian Pacific Americans.
- JACL Convention Bids for 2006 Now Being Accepted, by P.C. Staff, page 9. JACL is accepting bids from chapters interested in hosting the 39th biennial national convention in summer 2006. Bid packets are available from National JACL Vice President David Kawamoto, with Larry Oda available to discuss convention hosting responsibilities.
Community
- AA Attorneys Honor Marutani, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Asian American Bar Association of the Delaware Valley announced the William M. Marutani Fellowship at its annual banquet, honoring the first Asian American judge in Pennsylvania. Marutani, unable to attend due to health issues, was represented by family members who read his statement of gratitude.
- Veteran Inoshita Inducted Into Arizona Hall of Fame, by P.C. Staff, page 5. World War II MIS veteran Masaji Inoshita was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame after decades of lecturing on internment camp history. Inoshita, imprisoned at Gila River during WWII before enlisting, is a past president of the Arizona JACL chapter and active in the Arizona Buddhist Temple.
In-Depth
- Parade of Books About Nikkei: 1892-2003, With More Coming, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry Honda surveys a wide range of books about Japanese Americans, from Yamato Ichihashi’s 1932 scholarly classic to recent works like Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston’s novel and Joyce Hirohata’s collection of Nisei valedictory speeches. He highlights book events at the Japanese American National Museum and recounts the historical significance of several featured authors and subjects.
Obituaries
- Mary (Kaneko) Narahara, page 11. Mary Narahara, who was interned at the Tule Lake relocation camp where she met her husband Shig, later became an active community volunteer in Texas schools and churches. She spent her final decade as a volunteer teacher’s aide and is remembered as a thoughtful, optimistic person who touched many lives.
- Mary Michiko Izuno, page 11. Mary Michiko Izuno, 95, a longtime resident of San Francisco and the Orinda/Moraga area, passed away peacefully after a long and eventful life spanning from just after the Wright brothers’ first flight to the celebration of its centennial. A gathering to celebrate her life was planned at the Japanese Cemetery in Colma.
- Henry Isamu Daty, page 11. Henry I. Daty, 83, president of H.I. Daty, Inc., served on the boards of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation and the Japanese American Association. He was a charter member of the Japanese American National Museum and a generous benefactor to numerous Japanese American community organizations and scholarships.
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