Vol. 157, No. 4, August 16, 2013. 12 pages. View this issue
Hate and discrimination ran through this 12-page issue. On the first anniversary of the Oak Creek Sikh temple shooting, JACL National Director Priscilla Ouchida wrote about solidarity in the face of race violence. Gil Asakawa argued that Asian Americans should call out racism even when it seems inadvertent. At the JACL national convention, the National Council voted to support a Justice Department civil rights investigation into the Trayvon Martin case, and delegates passed further resolutions on immigration reform and on a veteran facing discharge over hepatitis B.
Also inside: Legacy Fund grants of $3,000 to ten JACL chapters, and word that Sen. Daniel K. Inouye would posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. JACL opened applications for the Daniel K. Inouye Fellowship. Associated Press reports covered the Hiroshima anniversary and the Fukushima water leaks, and a Glendale comfort women monument is covered on the last page.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- The Importance of Solidarity in the Face of Race Violence, by Priscilla Ouchida, page 2. Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Oak Creek Sikh temple shooting, JACL National Director Priscilla Ouchida discusses how hate crimes target ‘others’ regardless of individual identity, drawing parallels to Vincent Chin’s murder. She calls for coordinated AAPI coalition efforts to combat stereotypes, improve hate crime data reporting, and integrate AAPI contributions into mainstream American history.
- It’s Important to Call Out Racism Whenever It Appears, Even If It’s Inadvertent, by Gil Asakawa, page 3. Gil Asakawa argues that Asian Americans must speak up against racist remarks and actions rather than staying silent out of cultural values like gaman, citing recent examples including a fake pilot names prank, an offensive music video, and a CNBC anchor’s poor word choice. He contends that Asians remain uniquely vulnerable to overt racism compared to other minority groups and that silence only perpetuates the problem.
- Silent Disease, Silent Discrimination, by Nadine Shiroma and Ronald Katsuyama, page 3. The authors detail how chronic hepatitis B discrimination has barred Asian Pacific Islander American students from medical and dental schools and now threatens a nine-year Army veteran with discharge, prompting JACL’s emergency resolution at the 2013 National Convention. They compare HBV and HIV policies, arguing that outdated Dept. of Defense practices are discriminatory given modern medical advances and call for community action against silent discrimination.
- Racism (continued): Calling Out Offensive Speech, by Gil Asakawa, page 12. Asakawa continues his argument by detailing three specific racist incidents against Asian Americans in 2013, including a fake pilot names prank, an offensive rap-rock music video, and a CNBC anchor’s use of a racial slur pun. He insists that silence enables continued discrimination and that speaking out, even at the risk of being called overly sensitive, is necessary for change.
National
- Sen. Daniel K. Inouye to Posthumously Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, by P.C. Staff, page 4. President Obama named the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye among 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Inouye, who died in December at 88, was a WWII 442nd RCT veteran and Medal of Honor recipient who became the first Japanese American to serve in Congress.
- JACL Now Accepting Applications for Daniel K. Inouye Fellowship, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The JACL Washington, D.C. office is accepting applications for the 2013-14 Daniel K. Inouye Fellowship, a paid position focused on AAPI public policy advocacy. Applicants must hold a four-year degree and be JACL members familiar with AAPI issues, with applications due by Sept. 16.
- APAs in the News, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This roundup covers Kent Hirozawa’s Senate confirmation as the first Asian American on the National Labor Relations Board, Hawaii state Rep. Mark Takai’s congressional campaign launch, David Ono’s three L.A. Area Emmy wins, and Brandon Takahashi’s inclusion on Lawyers of Color’s Hot List. Each subject is highlighted for professional achievements in law, government, and broadcasting.
- DISCRIMINATION (continued): Understanding Chronic Hepatitis B and the Call to Action, by Nadine Shiroma and Ronald Katsuyama, page 5. This continuation explains the medical history of hepatitis B discovery and vaccine development, noting that chronic HBV is now preventable and treatable with modern antiviral drugs. The authors compare institutional policies for HIV versus HBV, questioning why HBV patients face harsher discrimination despite comparable medical advances, and urge readers to contact advocates to help address unfair policies.
- Japanese Government to Help Combat Radioactive Water Leaks at Fukushima, by Associated Press, page 9. Japan’s government announced it will take direct action, potentially funding a multibillion-dollar project, to address radioactive water leaks at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Officials estimate 300 tons of contaminated water has leaked into the sea daily since the 2011 disaster, prompting plans including pumping groundwater and building an underground ice wall by 2015.
- Remembering the Bombing on Hiroshima 68 Years Later, by Associated Press, page 9. Japan marked the 68th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing with a ceremony attended by 50,000 people, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for the elimination of nuclear weapons without addressing the Fukushima nuclear crisis. Hiroshima’s mayor criticized the government’s push to restart nuclear plants and export nuclear technology while the region still struggles with earthquake and nuclear disaster recovery.
In-Depth
- JACL National Council Votes to Support Civil-Rights Investigation Into the Trayvon Martin Case, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Delegates at the JACL National Convention passed an emergency resolution supporting a Justice Department civil rights investigation into George Zimmerman following his acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The resolution, compared by some delegates to the Vincent Chin case, passed 47.5-7.5 with 17 abstentions despite objections from some members who cited due process concerns.
- JACL Convention Delegates Debate and Pass Additional Resolutions, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Beyond the Trayvon Martin resolution, JACL delegates passed measures supporting comprehensive immigration reform, adjusting Japan JACL chapter dues to $25 annually, recognizing the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and addressing the discharge of a veteran with hepatitis B. Debate over the Martin resolution featured strong opinions on both sides, including comments from Pacific Southwest District Governor Ken Inouye on racial profiling.
Community
- Legacy Fund Grants Mark a Return to ‘Giving Back’, by Janice Faden and Jane Katsuyama, page 8. Ten JACL chapters received $3,000 Legacy Fund Grants at the 2013 National Convention, marking the fund’s return to active grantmaking after a hiatus due to insufficient earnings. The grants, drawn from redress-era donations, will support projects including memorial gardens, youth trips to historic sites, and community conferences aimed at preserving Japanese American history and civic engagement.
- City of Glendale Unveils Comfort Women Monument, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The city of Glendale, Calif. unveiled a monument honoring Korean ‘comfort women’ who were sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, while Buena Park considers a similar monument amid controversy. Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress spokesperson Kathy Masaoka called for Japan to formally apologize and provide reparations to surviving victims.
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