Redress claims, the JACL Legacy Fund and the Minidoka campsite

Vol. 125, No. 5, September 5, 1997. 16 pages. View this issue

Redress and its unfinished business ran through this 16-page issue. National JACL asked chapters to support the claim of Japanese American railroad and mining workers denied redress, and the paper printed a Union Pacific list of 191 Japanese employees from Feb. 11, 1942. Caroline Aoyagi reported on how JACL might tell its own part in the Civil Liberties Act story, a debate that Dale Minami, a letter on the JACL-LEC grant and a piece by Carol Kawase returned to. The cover photo showed the highway sign to Minidoka, and a story on page 11 described a bus visit to the campsite on Oct. 10.

The Legacy Fund drew two stories, one on a $79,626 bequest and one by Grayce Uyehara on a total near $6.8 million. Other pages covered California’s Proposition 209 taking effect, the Denny’s lawsuit by Syracuse University students, scholarship winners, columns by Bill Hosokawa and Akemi Kayleng, and Harry Honda on Mayan Nikkei and the Peru hostage crisis.

What’s in this issue

National

• National JACL Alerts Chapters to Support Railroad, Mining Families’ Claim for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL Headquarters urged chapters to launch a letter-writing campaign supporting Japanese American railroad and mining workers denied redress by the Office of Redress Administration. The action pointed to General DeWitt’s Proclamation No. 2 and Public Law 503 as evidence the federal government caused the workers’ exclusion from their jobs.
• Calif. Prop. 209 Now in Force, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that California could enforce Proposition 209, denying ACLU requests to delay implementation pending Supreme Court appeal. The anti-affirmative action measure, approved by 54% of California voters, took effect Aug. 28, ending preferential treatment based on race or gender in public employment, education and contracting.
• U.S. Students Sue Denny’s, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 7. Seven Syracuse University students, allegedly assaulted after being denied service at a Denny’s restaurant, filed a federal civil lawsuit following an independent Civil Rights Monitor’s finding of discrimination by restaurant employees. The lawsuit names Denny’s Inc., NDI Foods, Onondaga County, and security guards, seeking damages and policy changes regarding off-duty sheriffs as security personnel.
• Calif. Prop. 209 Now in Force – Impact on Minorities, page 14. Following the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling allowing Prop. 209 to take effect, JACL leaders express concern about its impact on Japanese Americans and other minorities seeking government positions and public contracts. National JACL Director Herb Yamanishi joined a protest march across the Golden Gate Bridge, while officials debate next steps including potential Supreme Court appeals.
• Budget Bill Restores Some Benefits for Immigrants, But Problems Remain, page 16. President Clinton signed the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which restored some benefits to legal immigrants including SSI and Medicaid for certain elderly and disabled individuals, though food stamp cuts remain a concern for nearly one million legal immigrants. The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium praised the partial victory while urging continued advocacy for full benefit restoration.

JACL

• JACL Legacy Fund Gets Major Bequest: $79,626 from Gladys Ishida Stone Estate, page 1. The JACL Legacy Fund received a major bequest of $79,625.93 from the estate of Gladys Ishida Stone, a Modesto-born educator and Twin Cities JACL member. Fund chair Grayce Uyehara expressed gratitude, noting the bequest also benefits the Twin Cities chapter and other institutions Stone supported during her life.
• Legacy Fund Nearing $6.8 Million, by Grayce Uyehara, page 1. The JACL National Council extended the Legacy Fund campaign to five years with a reduced $5 million goal, and as of June 30, 1997, total revenue reached $6,795,419. Uyehara reports on the fund’s growth through donations, memorials, and investment income, with a $10 million endowment now considered possible.
• Nat’l JACL Financial Books Show $150,000 Surplus, page 1. National Director Herbert Yamanishi reported a generally positive financial picture for JACL, with investments exceeding $8 million in market value. The organization is working to correct membership database errors and improve collaboration between staff and the National Board.
• National Director’s Report, March 21-August 1, 1997, by Herb Yamanishi, page 3. National Director Yamanishi’s report details JACL’s Program for Action activities including advocacy for hate crimes legislation, political appointments, health care initiatives, and governance improvements. The report covers committee meetings, the CLPEF grant situation, and staff activities including organizing historical photos and a National Day of Remembrance.
• 1997 Budget Update, by Herb Yamanishi, page 4. JACL National Director Yamanishi presented unaudited financial statements showing revenues and expenses for the first six months of 1997, with membership income at 65.26% of the annual goal. The report details line-item explanations for various revenue sources and expense categories including personnel costs, printing, and circulation.
• JACL Legacy Story Awaits Funding Decision Amid Redress Priorities Debate, page 7. The JACL-LEC’s proposal to document the organization’s redress campaign history was initially rejected by the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, then partially funded on appeal, but the committee declined the reduced grant. National Board members debate competing priorities between telling the redress story and pursuing outstanding redress cases for railroad workers, miners, and Japanese Latin Americans.
• Nat’l JACL Financial Books Show $150,000 Surplus – Treasurer’s Report Details, page 11. National Treasurer David Hayashi detailed factors contributing to JACL’s improved financial health, including rising membership revenues, a strengthening stock market, and new organizational improvements like an investment committee and updated accounting software. Various committee reports covered membership recruitment, the Washington D.C. office funding, and Legacy Fund grant allocations.

Incarceration & Redress

• Feb. 11, 1942 List Shows 191 Japanese Employed by Union Pacific Railroad, by Special to the Pacific Citizen, page 1. A Union Pacific Railroad Company document dated Feb. 11, 1942, lists 191 Japanese employees along with correspondence between company president D.M. Jeffers and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover regarding removing Japanese workers from sensitive positions. The letter reveals Jeffers’ decision, made in consultation with Hoover and Attorney General Biddle, to remove these employees from jobs where they could allegedly cause trouble.
• JACL’s Redress Story Awaits OK, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Members of JACL’s Legislative Education Committee discussed telling the story of JACL’s role in the redress campaign through a documentary book and traveling exhibit, but funding and prioritization remain contested. Former JACL leaders like Denny Yasuhara argued the legacy must be preserved while historical figures are still alive to be interviewed.
• Union Pacific: List Shows 191 Japanese Railroad Workers Terminated, page 10. A detailed roster continuation lists Japanese Union Pacific Railroad employees by name, hire date, job title and location across Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon divisions. The list documents workers who were dismissed following the 1942 government pressure on the railroad to remove Japanese employees from sensitive positions.
• Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Comes to Santa Cruz, page 14. The Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit ‘A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution’ opened Sept. 4 at the Santa Cruz City Library, co-sponsored by the Watsonville JACL. The six-week exhibition includes public lectures on WWII internment history, a film series, and a mini-exhibit of internment-themed artwork created by students at a Japanese cultural school.

Community

• Calif. Revokes License Plates with ‘JAP’, page 1. The California DMV revoked all license plates bearing the initials ‘JAP’ after a complaint that a plate reading ‘RAPNJAP’ was racially offensive, even though the owner claimed it merely represented his wife and daughter’s initials. Attorney Harvey Horikawa filed the complaint after a Japanese American police officer spotted the plate while on patrol.
• San Benito Reunion, page 4. A reunion for former San Juan Bautista, Calif., residents will be held on Sept. 6 at a designated site. Co-chairs are organizing the event for the local Japanese American community.
• Chiyoko and Thomas Shimazaki Scholarship Winner: Kenji Asakura, page 8. Kenji Asakura of Philadelphia JACL won the Shimazaki Scholarship to attend Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, having served as a fellow with Senator Orrin Hatch. His essay discusses the role of physicians in shaping health care policy and advocating for underserved populations.
• Two Scholarship Awards Added to Entering Freshmen Group, page 8. In JACL’s 51st year of its National Scholarship and Awards Program, 102 applicants competed for 15 Entering Freshman awards across eight districts. Two new awards were added this year: the Patricia and Gail Ishimoto Memorial Scholarship and the Yutaka Nakazawa Memorial Scholarship, with the selection committee chaired by Gary Mayeda.
• Denny’s Announces Policy Changes Following Civil Rights Monitor Findings, page 10. Denny’s Inc. announced it would implement recommendations from the Civil Rights Monitor including video-based non-discrimination training and restrictions on unsupervised managers-in-training. Company president John Romandetti expressed regret over the Syracuse incident while students expressed mixed reactions to the announcement, noting no arrests had yet been made.
• Minidoka Campsite Visit from 1000 Club Reunion, page 11. Bus trips to the Minidoka campsite have been consolidated to a single trip on Friday, Oct. 10, as part of the 1000 Club’s 50th anniversary reunion from Cactus Pete’s Casino in Jackpot, Nevada. The visitor’s house still remains at the entrance of the WWII internment center, with a golf tournament and banquet also planned for the reunion weekend.

Commentary

• Small Kid Time, by Gwen Muranaka, page 2. A commentary column reflecting on childhood memories and experiences. The piece continues from page 2 discussing personal reflections.
• The Internment of Italians and Japanese Americans Compared, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa examines a New York Times article by James Brooke comparing the WWII internment of Italian Americans at Fort Missoula with the much larger-scale Japanese American internment. He notes the disparity in numbers, citizenship status, and conditions, pointing out that while Italian internees enjoyed relatively pleasant conditions, Japanese Americans faced harsher circumstances despite most being U.S. citizens.
• Redress and You: How the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 Impacts You, page 7. This informational piece from the Office of Redress Administration explains eligibility requirements under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and notes the program will conclude Aug. 10, 1998, with no cases opened or payments made after that date. It details specific categories of eligible individuals including those from prohibited zones, Latin American internees, and those affected by administrative reclassifications.
• A September Update on the Kuan Kao Killing, by Carol Kawase, page 11. Sonoma County JACL President Carol Kawase provides updates on the shooting of Kuan Chung Kao by a Rohnert Park police officer, detailing new findings from the Asian Law Caucus investigation and Sonoma County Grand Jury report. The piece also addresses ongoing redress issues for railroad workers and Japanese Peruvians, emphasizing that redress work continues until August 1998.
• Part of Life: Volunteering, page 11. A chapter newsletter column reflects on the value and motivations behind volunteering for JACL, citing benefits such as friendship, community engagement, and personal growth. The piece encourages members to contribute to chapter activities and highlights opportunities for involvement in Cleveland JACL Chapter events.
• The Outcome: Why JACL-LEC Appealed, Then Refused CLPEF’s Grant, page 12. This letter details the history of JACL’s redress advocacy from 1970 through 1996, explaining why the JACL/LEC Executive Board unanimously rejected a $25,000 grant from the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund. The rejection stemmed from concerns that the reduced grant amount was insufficient and that the CLPEF panel failed to understand the significance of JACL/LEC’s role in securing redress legislation.
• You’re Okay, Kid, by Akemi Kayleng, page 13. Kayleng reflects on generational struggles faced by Nisei who wanted educational or career paths different from those pushed by their families and community. The column examines how community pressure and shame contributed to psychological struggles among some Nisei who didn’t fit traditional molds of academic or professional achievement.
• A Response to Yasuhara’s Commentary, by Dale Minami, page 13. Minami responds to Denny Yasuhara’s commentary regarding the JACL/LEC grant rejection, defending the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund’s grant-making process and noting only a small percentage of the 135 funded projects received full funding for their original proposals. The piece acknowledges JACL/LEC’s contributions to redress while explaining the funding constraints faced by CLPEF.
• Comments and Concerns Over Akemi’s Article: A Generation’s Passing, page 13. A response to Akemi Kayleng’s earlier article addresses the emotional impact of her honest portrayal of growing up Sansei in America. The piece discusses the importance of hearing and learning from painful generational stories in order to heal individual and community wounds.

Military & Veterans

• Fujimori and the ‘Hostage Watch’ (V), by Harry Honda, page 10. This installment continues the Pacific Citizen’s digest of the Peru hostage crisis at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Lima, covering negotiations between rebel leader Nestor Cerpa and Peruvian government mediators. President Fujimori secured Fidel Castro’s offer of asylum for the Tupac Amaru rebels during a visit to Cuba, while negotiations continued over prisoner releases.
• ‘Festival in the Garden’ Fundraiser Set Sept. 21, page 14. The 100-442-MIS Memorial Foundation’s major 1997 fundraiser will be held at the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys, featuring a catered luncheon from ObaChine, entertainment by Hiroshima, and George Takei as emcee. Proceeds support the ‘Go for Broke’ monument and its educational programs, with tickets priced at $150 and discounts for veterans.

In-Depth

• Mayan Nikkei, by Harry Honda, page 12. Harry Honda explores the historical connections between Mayan civilization and Asian ancestry, reflecting on his trip to Yucatan following the ninth Pan American Nikkei Association convention in Mexico City. The piece discusses the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Mexico, dating to May 10, 1897, and the community’s history in that country.
• Jazz Singer-Teacher Comfortable on Stage, by Allan Beekman, page 14. Sandy Tsukiyama de Oliviera balances multiple roles as a professional jazz singer, music teacher, and language interpreter in Honolulu. A University of Hawaii graduate in ethnomusicology, she studied Brazilian and Mexican music traditions and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Sports

• Las Vegas Yonsei, Caracciolo, Drafted by Montreal Expos, by Sally Skinner, page 14. Anthony Caracciolo, 17-year-old grandson of the late George Miyama, was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the seventh round after an outstanding season at Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada. Caracciolo, who is of both Japanese and Italian heritage, is currently playing rookie ball in West Palm Beach, Florida.
• Sansei Named Riverside Baseball Coach of the Year, page 16. Paul Kumamoto was named Riverside County baseball coach of the year after leading Jurupa Valley High School’s Jaguars to their first Mountain View League title since 1993 with 21 wins. The Riverside JACL plans to honor Kumamoto, son of charter chapter members, with a Recognition of Distinguished Achievement Award.
• Racial Insult Part of Del Mar Racing Incident, page 16. Jockey Corey Nakatani was suspended through Sept. 10 after pushing apprentice Ryan Barber off his mount at Del Mar racetrack, with testimony revealing Barber used a racial slur against Nakatani during the confrontation. Nakatani’s trainer-attorney cited a mitigating medical condition but the jockey accepted the suspension penalty.

Obituaries

• Journalist Richard Takeuchi, 78, at the Sun-Times, by Allan Beekman, page 15. Seattle-born Richard C. Takeuchi, a longtime journalist who held several editing positions at the Chicago Sun-Times, died Aug. 10 in Vancouver, B.C., at age 78. He retired in 1981 after 37 years at the newspaper, having served as TV Prevue editor and assistant news editor during his career.
• Coach Soichi Sakamoto, Legendary Swim Coach, Dies, by Allan Beekman, page 15. Soichi Sakamoto (1906-1997), who coached some of the best swimmers ever produced in Hawaii including Olympic gold medalists Bill Smith and Ford Konno, died Aug. 2 of pneumonia complications. As a science teacher and swim coach at Puunene School on Maui, he later served as assistant U.S. Olympic swim team coach, and the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku was renamed in his honor earlier this year.

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