Voting power and the Proposition 8 fight: the November 2008 election issue

Vol. 147, No. 10, November 21, 2008. 16 pages. View this issue

Same-sex marriage and the 2008 elections shared the front page. Lynda Lin wrote about Tim Ky and Larry Riesenbach, a South Pasadena couple whose legal marriage was thrown into doubt after California voters passed Proposition 8, and followed with a look at how the Asian Pacific American community split on the measure. The JACL joined an amicus brief and described the ban as civil rights discrimination. Another story reported that Asian Pacific Americans turned out in high numbers on Nov. 4, with 62 percent voting for Obama.

Also inside: Caroline Aoyagi-Stom profiled Dr. Gordon Sato and his Manzanar Project in Eritrea and Mauritania, and JACL urged passage of a bill to study Tule Lake as part of the National Park system. Miyu Kataoka reported on the Chinatown casino fight in Philadelphia. Floyd Mori, Josh Spry, Brandon Mita and Harry Honda wrote columns, and Rita Takahashi looked back at the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

What’s in this issue

National

• Equality Lost: Same-sex Marriage is a Civil Rights Issue of the 21st Century, by Lynda Lin, page 1. After California voters passed Proposition 8 reinstating the ban on same-sex marriage, couples like Tim Ky and Larry Riesenbach face an uncertain future despite having legally married earlier in the year. The article explores the broader civil rights implications of the vote alongside Barack Obama’s historic election.
• JACL to Continue to Press for Marriage Equality, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Following the passage of Proposition 8, the JACL joined other civil rights groups in submitting an amicus brief supporting a Writ Mandate to invalidate the measure. JACL leaders argue that denying equal protection to same-sex couples echoes historical discrimination against Japanese Americans.
• A Love of Science Bests a Life of Humanity, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Dr. Gordon Sato, a cellular biologist and inventor of the cancer drug Erbitux, has dedicated much of his life to helping impoverished people in Eritrea and Mauritania through his Manzanar Project. His experiences at the Manzanar internment camp during WWII shaped his lifelong belief in science’s power to help people.
• Fights On To Stop Casino Development, by Miyu Kataoka, page 1. Despite community opposition, a Philadelphia City Council committee voted unanimously for a zoning change allowing a Foxwoods Casino near Chinatown. Residents fear gambling addiction and negative community impacts, but hundreds of protesters have been unable to stop the project’s progress.
• Florida’s Amendment 1 Fails: ‘We’ll Get Them Next Time’ May Not Be Good Enough, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Florida voters rejected Amendment 1, which would have removed a 1926 provision from the state constitution barring Asian immigrants from owning land, leaving Florida as the only state with such a discriminatory law still on the books. Advocates point to poor wording, lack of educational campaigning, and low prioritization as reasons for the amendment’s defeat.
• Asian Pacific Americans Show Strength in Nov. 4 Elections, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. APAs turned out in historically high numbers in the 2008 elections, with 62 percent voting for Obama, and saw several APA candidates elected to local and national office. Civil rights leaders say immigration reform, particularly family visa backlogs, will be a top priority for the community going forward.
• Work Starts on New Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center, by Audrey McAvoy, page 4. Survivors of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack helped break ground on a new visitor’s center for the USS Arizona Memorial after the current sinking structure was deemed unsafe. Sen. Daniel Inouye spoke at the ceremony about the importance of remembering history, with the new center expected to be completed by December 2010.
• Major Study of Chinese Americans Debunks ‘Model Minority’ Myth, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A University of Maryland study found that Chinese Americans face a ‘glass ceiling’ despite high educational achievement, earning significantly less than white counterparts in fields like law and medicine. The research also highlighted the extreme economic diversity within the Chinese American community.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A roundup of national news briefs including a rise in hate crimes against APAs per FBI statistics, Syracuse University’s progress toward an Asian Studies minor, a Muslim deli owner’s lawsuit against Yonkers police, and Colorado’s rejection of a ballot measure to ban affirmative action.
• $1,000,000 Approved for MIS Historic Site at NPS Presidio of S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 5. Legislation signed by the President provides $1 million to support a Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center at the Presidio of San Francisco, at the site of the original MIS Language School. The Center will honor the more than 6,000 MIS veterans who served during WWII and later helped rebuild Japan.
• What Now? APA Community Grapples With Same-sex Marriage Ban, by Lynda Lin, page 6. In the wake of Proposition 8’s passage, civil rights groups filed a petition with the California Supreme Court while APA community leaders and religious figures spoke out in support of marriage equality. The article examines the APA vote split on the measure and parallels to historical antimiscegenation laws.
• Protestors Continue to Fight Proposed Casino in Philly’s Chinatown, by Miyu Kataoka, page 10. Philadelphia’s Chinatown community continues to organize against the proposed Foxwoods Casino, citing concerns over gambling addiction, crime, and community impact. Despite over 25,000 petition signatures and marches, city officials have moved forward with zoning approval for the project.
• 6 APA, Native American Pacific Islander Institutions Receive $10 Million in Grants, by P.C. Staff, page 13. The U.S. Department of Education awarded approximately $10 million to six Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions to support programs benefiting AAPI students. The grants mark the first round of funding under this new federal program championed by Rep. David Wu and CAPAC.

Commentary

• JACL Investments Decline Inline with Market, by Josh Spry, page 2. National JACL Secretary/Treasurer Josh Spry explains that JACL’s investment portfolio declined approximately 24 percent in 2008 amid the broader market downturn, though less than major equity indices due to conservative diversification. The Investment Policy Committee continues to monitor the situation and revise budgets accordingly.
• Tradition!, by Floyd Mori, page 2. National Director Floyd Mori reflects on JACL’s need to balance tradition with modernization, citing changes like the shift to annual conventions and new fellowship programs for young leaders. He emphasizes JACL’s expanding civil rights work beyond the Japanese American community, including LGBT rights and immigration reform.
• Prop. 8 is Unconstitutional, by Mas Hashimoto, page 2. In a letter to the editor, Mas Hashimoto argues that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional because it fails to protect minority rights as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. He asserts that not all laws are fair or just, even when passed by majority vote.
• Rita Takahashi Reflects On Her Role on the JACL’s LEC, by Kathy Aoki, page 7. Rita Takahashi, former associate director of JACL’s Legislative Education Committee, recalls her work advocating for Redress legislation from 1987 to 1989. She credits the collective efforts of many individuals, including Clifford Uyeda and Colleen Darling, for the eventual passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
• Why I Care, by Brandon Mita, page 7. JACL national youth representative Brandon Mita reflects on why he cares about social justice issues beyond his own immediate community, citing personal encounters with poverty, discrimination, and immigration struggles. He urges young Japanese Americans to use their privilege to inspire change.
• Green Peace?, by Peter Shigeki Frandsen, page 8. Columnist Peter Shigeki Frandsen reflects on the growing ‘green’ movement and its potential, highlighting stem cell research by Columbia’s Dr. Jeremy Mao as a metaphor for renewable innovation. He argues America must invest in green technology research to remain competitive globally.
• And About Issei Pioneers in Alaska, by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda recounts stories of Issei pioneers in Alaska, including legendary figures like musher Jujiro Wada and trader Frank Yasuda, drawn from historical sources. The column also describes the hardships of gold prospecting and the significant role Japanese immigrants played in Alaska’s salmon canneries.

JACL

• JACL Urges for Passage of Tule Lake Study Bill, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. As Congress returns for a lame-duck session, JACL National Director Floyd Mori urged support for an omnibus land bill containing a provision to study making Tule Lake Segregation Center part of the National Park system. The bill is bipartisan and President Bush has indicated he would sign it if passed.
• JACL Joins Amicus Brief Challenging U.S. Detention, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL supported an amicus brief in Iqbal v. Ashcroft, a case challenging the government’s post-9/11 detention and mistreatment of Arab and Muslim men. The brief draws parallels to the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans and argues national security does not justify targeting groups based on race or religion.

Community

• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. This roundup covers several APA individuals recognized for achievements, including Sen. Daniel Inouye’s appointment as Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, Terri Nomura’s statewide ‘Maggie’ award, Dr. Sumi Mitsudo-Koide’s medical service award, and other honorees in education and law.
• Fund-raiser to Benefit Campaign For Justice, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Francisco JACL is hosting a spaghetti crab feed fundraiser on Dec. 6 to benefit the Campaign for Justice’s efforts to secure redress for Japanese Latin American internees. A House hearing on a related bill was canceled in July, leaving the JLA community still awaiting formal recognition.

Arts & Entertainment

• 8 Questions with Renee Tajima-Peña, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Renee Tajima-Peña discusses her latest documentary ‘Calavera Highway,’ which follows her husband’s family journey to uncover a painful past involving Bracero-era deportations. She also draws parallels between her own Japanese American internment history and her husband’s Mexican American immigrant experience.

Obituaries

• Hiram G. Akita, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Hiram G. Akita, born in 1917 in Burlington, Washington, passed away on Sept. 29 after a life that included internment at Tule Lake and later graduation from the University of Washington. He was active in his church and enjoyed golf, and is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen, along with children and grandchildren.
• Alice M. Fujikawa, by P.C. Staff, page 15. A memorial service was held for Alice May Fujikawa, who passed away on Oct. 16 after a brief illness, at Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach. The family requested donations in her name to the Japanese American National Museum in lieu of flowers.

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