Racist remarks in Arizona and a fight over the paper’s future

Vol. 119, No. 5, September 1994. 16 pages. View this issue

Racism and a struggle over JACL’s own house shared the front page. Gwen Muranaka reported that Dave Moss, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona, used a slur in a newspaper profile, and that two teens were arrested for cross-burnings there. Houston Chapter president Betty Waki announced a campaign to rename Jap Road in Texas after Issei pioneers. At the 33rd Biennial National Convention, the National Council moved the Pacific Citizen’s business control to the National Board, and letters and columns by John Nakahata, Hank Sakai and Peter Harris weighed in.

Also inside: the Japanese American National Museum’s plans for a camp exhibit that includes a Heart Mountain barrack, the Tule Lake reunion planned for May 1995, and news that Jerry Enomoto was sworn in as U.S. Marshal. Karen Narasaki wrote on health care reform, Randy Senzaki on California’s Proposition 187, and Congress approved $5 million for the redress education fund.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Democratic Senate Candidate Uses Slur ‘Jap-a-lope’ in Arizona, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Dave Moss, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona, referred to jack-a-lopes as ‘Jap-a-lopes’ in a Phoenix Gazette profile and made offensive comments about killing Japanese people in WWII. The story continues with reports of teens arrested for cross-burnings in Arizona.
• San Mateo Chapter, TV Station Present Historical Documentary, by P.C. Staff, page 6. An overflow crowd attended the premiere of ‘The New Americans: Chrysanthemums and Salt,’ a documentary produced by KCSM TV60 in cooperation with the San Mateo JACL chapter about Japanese American community building on the San Francisco peninsula from 1872-1942. Two more programs on Japanese American history are planned for 1995 and 1996.
• U.S. Marshal Jerry Enomoto Honored by JACL Chapters, Local Community, by Toko Fujii, page 6. Newly appointed U.S. Marshal Jerry Enomoto was honored at a community dinner attended by 350 people in Sacramento, following his swearing-in ceremony. Speakers included Congressman Robert Matsui, who called Enomoto a role model, along with numerous local officials and community leaders.
• Jim Kajiwara Receives S.F. Okamoto Volunteer Award, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Jim Kajiwara was selected as recipient of the 1994 Kay Okamoto Volunteer Award for his extensive community service including work with Boy Scouts, Pine Methodist Church, and the National Coalition of Redress and Reparations. The $1,000 award was shared with Nihonmachi Legal Outreach and the Hamilton Senior Center.
• Seabrook to Mark 50th Year with Dedication of Museum, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. The Seabrook, N.J. JACL chapter will celebrate its 50th year with a museum dedication in Upper Deerfield Township Hall, chronicling the Japanese American community that developed there starting in 1944. The community grew after Nisei internees were released from WRA camps to work at Seabrook Farms during WWII.
• S.F. Chapter Pitches In to Clean Up AIDS Memorial Grove, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Members of the San Francisco JACL Chapter participated for the third year in a volunteer work day at the AIDS Memorial Grove, clearing underbrush and planting shrubs. Coordinator Greg Marutani praised the sense of community and pride the volunteer work generates.
• St. Louis Chapter Members Meet Royal Couple from Japan, by Mike Hoshiko, page 7. The emperor and empress of Japan visited the Missouri Botanical Garden for a tree-planting ceremony and met with St. Louis JACL Chapter members including founding members who had originally proposed the Japanese Garden. The emperor asked chapter president Dr. Kendall Itoku about JACL’s role in promoting friendship between Japanese Americans and Japanese citizens.
• Seattle, Puyallup, Lake Washington Members Participate in Fashion Show, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Kanojo, USA staged its 1994 fashion collection premiere in Seattle featuring local notable models including City Councilwoman Martha Choe and State Representative Velma Veloria. Seattle JACL and Adult Buddhist Association members collaborated on the event, attended by about 500 people.
• Tule Lake Reunion Planned for May 1995, by Toko Fuji, page 7. The Tule Lake Reunion Planning Committee met to plan its 5th Reunion, scheduled for May 19-20, 1995 at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento. The previous 50th anniversary event drew close to 1,400 participants, and announcements will be mailed to 2,000 past attendees.

Incarceration & Redress

• Campaign Announced to Rename ‘Jap’ Road, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At the JACL National Convention in Salt Lake City, Houston Chapter president Betty Waki announced the ‘Honor the Pioneers’ campaign to rename Jap Road and Jap Lane in southeast Texas after Issei pioneers. The chapter continues working on the issue despite a low profile and local opposition.
• Japanese American National Museum to Unveil New Exhibit on Camp Experience, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese American National Museum will premiere ‘America’s Concentration Camps: Remembering the Japanese American Experience’ on Nov. 11, featuring an original barrack from Heart Mountain, camp artifacts, and never-before-seen home movies. The exhibit aims to increase awareness of the WWII incarceration experience and gather more information for future exhibits.
• Office of Redress Administration Announces 148 Cases Ready for Payment, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Office of Redress Administration announced that 148 redress cases were ready for payment beginning the first week of October, including cases from the Waiau region of Hawaii and Phoenix area. About 117 cases remain pending verification of documentation.
• Exhibit on Evacuation, Camp Days to Open Nov. 11 in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 14. The Japanese American National Museum’s new exhibit will feature videos of prewar Issei home movies, 100/442nd newsreel footage, and 1982 redress hearings, alongside a Heart Mountain barrack unit inscribed with a family number the museum is trying to trace. Curator Karen Ishizuka explained the exhibit aims to increase awareness while acknowledging it cannot cover every aspect of the incarceration experience.

National

• California Domestic Partners Bill Vetoed by Gov. Wilson, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Despite efforts by Diablo Valley Chapter and JACL President Yasuhara, Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed AB2810, a bill that would have granted rights to domestic partners. Wilson said the bill would weaken the institution of marriage; the chapter vowed to continue its advocacy efforts.
• Teen Guilty of 5 of 12 Charges in Sacramento Firebombings Trial, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Richard Campos, an admitted white supremacist, was found guilty on 5 of 12 counts related to 1993 firebombing attacks in Sacramento, including arson at a councilman’s home and a fair employment office. A mistrial was declared on the remaining charges including attempted murder, and Campos will be retried.
• List of Charges Against Richard Campos, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Richard Campos was convicted of racially motivated arson against Councilman Jimmie Yee’s home and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing office, along with related destructive device charges. A mistrial was declared on charges related to attempted murder of Yee and firebombings of the Sacramento JACL office, NAACP, and Temple B’nai Israel.
• JACL Commends Comprehensive Diversity Program Instituted by Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, by From JACL Staff, page 4. JACL commended Commerce Secretary Ron Brown’s new diversity program, which includes career development, diversity training, and an internal Diversity Council, and called on other federal agencies to follow suit. JACL Washington Representative Karen Narasaki praised the initiative as important for breaking glass ceilings for Asian Pacific Americans and other minorities.
• Congress Gives Final Approval to $5 Million Appropriation for Redress Education Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Senate passed the final version of an appropriations bill including a $5 million appropriation for the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, one of JACL’s top priorities. JACL thanked several legislators including Senator Inouye and Representatives Mineta and Matsui for their support.
• JACL Applauds Passage of Crime Legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL applauded passage of the Violence Against Women Act and the Hate Crime Sentencing Enhancement Act as part of the Crime Bill passed by the Senate. National Director Randy Senzaki said the legislation gives communities additional tools to fight hate crimes.
• DC-ORA Announces New Guidelines for Glendale, Phoenix Cases, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Office of Redress Administration announced revised guidelines for considering redress claims from individuals in the Phoenix/Glendale area of Arizona whose lives were disrupted by WWII exclusion order boundary lines. JACL had worked with attorney Gen Fujioka to encourage ORA to develop these new guidelines.
• JACL Supports Universal Coverage with Strong Antidiscrimination Provisions, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL announced strong support for health care reform, urging universal coverage and anti-discrimination provisions covering race, ethnicity, national origin, and other factors. Karen Narasaki noted that one in five Asian Pacific Americans lack health insurance.
• Sacramento Chapter, JACL Considers Legal Action Against Campos, by P.C. Staff, page 14. Following Richard Campos’s conviction on some firebombing charges, Sacramento JACL chapter president Randy Imai said the chapter is considering whether to file a lawsuit against Campos, focusing on principle rather than money. The JACL office had been destroyed in the October 1993 firebombing but was able to recover through donations.
• Arizona Teens Arrested in Cross-Burning Incidents, by P.C. Staff, page 14. Two teenagers, Keith Stewart Stanley and Brent Glover Stanley, were arrested and charged with arson for cross burnings at a synagogue and two restaurants in Arizona. A special service at Beth Joshua Temple protesting the incidents was attended by JACL Arizona Chapter representatives, NAACP, and various religious and law enforcement officials.

JACL

• Cherry Kinoshita Named PC Chair; Jim Miyazaki VP of Operations, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL President Denny Yasuhara announced the appointment of Cherry Kinoshita as Pacific Citizen Editorial Board chair and Jim Miyazaki as National Vice President of General Operations. Mae Takahashi was named to head a committee studying financial problems, and Dale Minami was named interim legal counsel.
• National Board Takes Over Pacific Citizen Finances, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. The National Council approved sweeping changes to the Pacific Citizen’s structure at the 33rd Biennial National Convention, shifting business responsibility from the PC Board to the National Board. The changes followed extensive debate over multiple resolutions and amendments regarding the newspaper’s editorial and financial control.
• Holiday Issue Kits Mailed to Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 1994 Holiday Issue kits were mailed to chapter coordinators over Labor Day weekend, with details on participation rates from 1993 showing 80 of 115 chapters participated. Deadlines for reserving bulk-rate space and submitting ads were outlined for the upcoming Holiday Issue.
• It’s Official: Jerry Enomoto Gets U.S. Marshal’s Badge, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Jerry Enomoto was sworn in as U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of California by Chief Judge Robert Coyle, with Rep. Robert Matsui presenting the commission. Enomoto, a two-term former National JACL president, was attended by numerous judges and dignitaries at the ceremony.

Commentary

• From the President: Message to Members, by Denny Yasuhara, page 3. National JACL President Denny Yasuhara writes that the organization faces crucial financial decisions requiring membership support and cooperation. He promises periodic progress reports on efforts to resolve JACL’s financial problems in a way that provides long-term rather than stop-gap solutions.
• Beware: Initiative Based Upon Fear and Ignorance, by Randy Senzaki, page 4. JACL National Director Randy Senzaki discusses the National Council’s Resolution #12 supporting equal access to public education and health care, and criticizes California’s Proposition 187 as a mean-spirited, discriminatory initiative. He outlines the four requirements of Prop 187 and urges Californians to vote no and others to be wary of similar initiatives.
• Health Care Reform—A JACL Priority, by Karen Narasaki, page 4. Karen Narasaki discusses the JACL National Council’s decision to make health care reform a priority, noting that changes in the health care industry will affect Yonsei and Sansei generations differently than Nisei. She notes JACL’s support for bills that include universal coverage, cost containment, and strong anti-discrimination provisions.
• Comeback in Colorado, by Bill Hosokawa, page 11. Sansei attorney Stanley Matsunaka is running for Colorado state senate in a largely rural district that has been held by Republicans for 20 years, hoping to become the first Japanese American in the state legislature in over a quarter century. Matsunaka faces a significant fundraising challenge, needing $50,000-$75,000 to run a competitive campaign against a well-funded incumbent.
• Eda-mame: Green Soybeans, by Bill Marutani, page 11. Bill Marutani recounts his effort to grow eda-mame (green soybeans) in his garden, struggling to find seeds until receiving some from Japan. He reflects on childhood memories of Issei preparing the beans and confirms the kanji characters that spell out the vegetable’s name.
• Praise for Those Who Coordinated Convention, by S. Ruth Hashimoto, page 11. A letter writer praises the Mt. Olympus, Salt Lake City, and Wasatch Front Chapters for hosting an excellent 33rd Biennial JACL Convention, highlighting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s rendition of the JACL Hymn. The writer thanks convention chairman Floyd Mori and volunteers for their tireless efforts.
• Praise for Convention, by Karl Nobuyuki, page 12. Former JACL national director Karl Nobuyuki praises the Mt. Olympus Chapter’s seamless organization of the 33rd Biennial Convention, especially the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s performance of the JACL Hymn. He notes the business sessions lacked organization due to the volume of resolutions and amendments presented to delegates.
• Criticism of PC Reporting, Finances, by John Nakahata, page 12. John Nakahata criticizes the Pacific Citizen for not reporting on its own worsening financial situation, revealing the PC was headed for a deficit of over $108,000 for 1994. He argues the paper must go to monthly or biweekly publication and explains why previous missed issues actually helped rather than hurt the deficit.
• Re-thinking ‘Asian American’, by Mei Nakano, page 12. Mei Nakano describes two recent experiences that led her to question the usefulness of the term ‘Asian American,’ including an awkward attempt to represent ‘Asian American’ culture at a women’s camp with women of different Asian ethnicities. She argues that grouping diverse Asian ethnicities together can obscure issues specific to individual groups and lead to stereotyping.
• Post-Convention Assessment, by Peter Harris, page 12. Peter Harris analyzes JACL’s shrinking membership crisis, noting a 27% membership decline over the past decade that requires 1,000-2,000 new members annually just to maintain or grow the organization. He argues that budget cuts to the Pacific Citizen and other JACL programs are symptomatic of this deeper membership crisis rather than excessive spending.
• Hapas and the Future of the JA Community, by Becky King and Greg Mayeda, page 13. With out-marriage rates at 65% in the Japanese American community, the authors discuss the work of Hapa Issues Forum in addressing issues facing mixed-race Japanese Americans. They describe JACL’s Program for Action point on supporting multi-ethnic families and propose collaboration between Hapa Issues Forum and JACL.
• Finding a Way to Finance PC, by Hank Sakai, page 13. Hank Sakai criticizes the National Council’s budget cut to the Pacific Citizen, arguing that reducing publication frequency will hurt communication with members and potentially decrease membership. He proposes separating PC subscription costs from national dues to give the paper financial independence and stability.
• Letters to the Editor, by Various, page 13. This roundup includes letters on gun registration parallels to internment, concerns about changes to Pacific Citizen governance, a shocking anti-Japanese computer game, excessive National JACL spending, and an offer to be a bone marrow donor. Writers express varied opinions on JACL policy, PC’s editorial independence, and community issues.

Military & Veterans

• East San Gabriel Valley JCC Salutes Nisei, Sansei KIA, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center memorialized eleven Japanese Americans from the area killed in WWII, the Korean Conflict, and Vietnam with a new bronze memorial plaque. Community leaders and VFW representatives participated in the dedication ceremony, with family members placing roses beneath the plaque.

Obituaries

• Kenji Kikuchi, Pioneer Issei Pastor, Dies at 96, by P.C. Staff, page 16. Kenji Kikuchi, a pioneer Issei pastor, died September 6, 1994 at Fountain View Hospital at age 96. Funeral services were held September 16 with burial at Mt. View Cemetery in Fullerton.
• Harry Haruo Yoshimoto Funeral Services Held, by P.C. Staff, page 16. Funeral services were held for Harry Haruo Yoshimoto, a 69-year-old Kemmerer, Wyoming-born Nisei and WWII veteran of the 442nd Battalion who died at a Veterans hospital. Services were held at Fukui Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Hiden Ito officiating, and he was survived by his wife and family members.

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