Civil liberties after 9/11, and a Pentagon-bound Air Force officer

Vol. 137, No. 9, November 7, 2003. 12 pages. View this issue

Civil liberties after 9/11 ran through this 12-page issue. Bill Yoshino wrote about JACL’s part in an ACLU lawsuit challenging the Patriot Act, drawing on the World War II treatment of Japanese Americans. Other stories covered the Senate confirmation of Stuart Ishimaru to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the case of Army chaplain James Yee compared with Wen Ho Lee’s, and Hasbro’s lawsuit over the game Ghettopoly. The front page profiled Lt. Col. Glen Marumoto, raised in Live Oak, Calif., on his move from Beale Air Force Base to the Pentagon.

Also inside: Steve Hamamoto’s appeal for a family’s medical fund and Gary McDougle’s search for a marrow donor for his wife, a Bainbridge Island memorial workshop, the Minidoka internment camp in an Idaho classroom display, and a page of sports news including Apolo Anton Ohno’s World Cup win. Ryan Chin reported on JACL’s membership gains.

What’s in this issue

National

• Native Beale Officer Marumoto Pentagon-bound, by Daniel Witter, page 1. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Glen Marumoto, raised on a peach farm in Live Oak, Calif., is leaving his post as commander of the 9th Maintenance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base to become director of Logistics Integration at the Pentagon. Marumoto reflects on his career path from the Air Force Academy through post-9/11 challenges and his small-town roots.
• Stuart Ishimaru Confirmed for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Senate confirmed Stuart Ishimaru’s nomination to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, filling the seat previously held by Paul Igasaki. JACL leaders praised the confirmation, noting Ishimaru’s extensive background in civil rights law and government service.
• Activists See Similarities Between Cases of Islamic Chaplain and Wen Ho Lee, by Associated Press, page 1. Civil rights activists compare the investigation of Army Capt. James Yee, a Muslim chaplain accused of mishandling classified information at Guantanamo Bay, to the case of Wen Ho Lee, a Chinese American scientist wrongly suspected of espionage. Activists vow to speak up quickly to ensure Yee is treated fairly, despite notable differences between the two cases.
• Hasbro Files Lawsuit Against Maker of Ghettopoly Game, by Associated Press, page 1. Hasbro Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against David Chang, creator of the controversial board game Ghettopoly, alleging trademark and copyright violations of Monopoly. The game, which features racially charged imagery, has drawn outrage from the NAACP and other groups and has been pulled from Urban Outfitters stores.
• Immigrant Advocates Say Gov’t Fails to Notify Men of Registration Deadline, by Deborah Kong, page 3. Immigrant advocates and attorneys say the government has not adequately informed men from Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries about deadlines to reregister under a special federal program, risking deportation for those who miss them. Groups like the ACLU and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee are working to spread awareness of the requirement.
• World’s Oldest Person Dies: Kamato Hongo of Japan Was 116, by Associated Press, page 3. Kamato Hongo, recognized as the world’s oldest person, died of pneumonia in Japan at age 116. Her death highlights Japan’s aging population and record-low birth rates, raising concerns about strain on pension and health care systems.
• University of Michigan Students Host National Affirmative Action Day, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. University of Michigan students held events for National Take Affirmative Action Day, including an NAACP panel and a comedic impersonation of activist Ward Connerly, who seeks to ban racial preferences via a Michigan ballot measure. The event came after the U.S. Supreme Court’s mixed ruling on the university’s admissions policies.
• Group Seeks Better Asian American Care, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Asian-Pacific Community in Action surveyed Chinese and Vietnamese residents in Phoenix to identify gaps in health care access due to cultural and language barriers. The group’s findings were presented at a forum attended by about 100 health professionals and community leaders.
• ACLU Urges Support for Patriot Act Challenge, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. The ACLU of Oregon urged residents to support Sen. Ron Wyden’s challenge to parts of the Patriot Act, comparing current civil liberties concerns to historical injustices like Japanese American internment. Growing bipartisan opposition to the law has emerged nationwide.
• FBI to Investigate Harassment at Muslim Day-care Center, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. An Egyptian-born day-care owner near St. Louis has faced harassment, vandalism and hate messages, prompting an FBI hate crimes investigation. The incident is part of a broader pattern of harassment against Muslims nationwide since 9/11.
• University of Colorado Falling Short on Diversity, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. University of Colorado President Betsy Hoffman acknowledged the Boulder campus is struggling to recruit and retain diverse faculty and students despite other successes. Black and Hispanic student enrollment remains below state and national averages.
• Congress Considers Proposal To Push Police to Arrest Immigrants, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Congressional Republicans, led by Rep. Charlie Norwood, are pushing legislation that would pressure local police to check immigration status during routine stops. Immigrant advocates and police chiefs warn the measure could lead to racial profiling and alienate immigrant communities.

Commentary

• From the Midwest: What Have We Learned? What Do We Believe In?, by Bill Yoshino, page 1. Midwest Regional Director Bill Yoshino discusses JACL’s involvement in an ACLU lawsuit challenging provisions of the Patriot Act, drawing parallels to WWII-era violations of Japanese American civil liberties. He highlights the case of Arab American Ahmed Ali Ghosn as an example of potential Patriot Act abuses.
• Compassion and Appreciation, by Steve Hamamoto, page 2. Steve Hamamoto writes about his friends Bobby and Susan Ideishi, whose two daughters were diagnosed with the rare condition Moya-moya requiring dangerous brain surgeries. He describes the family’s ordeal and appeals for donations through a trust fund set up by the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation.
• Supporting Same-Sex Marriage, by J. Clark, page 2. A Berkeley JACL chapter member responds to a previous letter about JACL membership, arguing that JACL should continue to support same-sex marriage rights. The writer shares experiences teaching Japanese nationals who identify as gay or lesbian and argues this is a valid issue for JACL to support.
• Please Help Me Find a Marrow Donor, by Gary McDougle, page 2. Gary McDougle appeals for more Asian donors to join the National Marrow Donor Program registry, explaining that his wife Wanida, who has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, needs a bone marrow transplant. He explains the difficulty of finding matches due to the shortage of Asian donors on the registry.
• JACL Gala Dinner Tribute / Sen. Coble, by Ueda, page 2. A reader from Sao Paulo, Brazil, praises the Pacific Citizen’s coverage of the JACL Gala Dinner Tribute and expresses support for the paper’s campaign against offensive remarks made by Senator Howard Coble. The writer encourages continued advocacy efforts by P.C. and JACL.

JACL

• 2004 JACL/OCA DC Leadership Conference Set for Mar. 12-16, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Applications are open for the 2004 JACL/OCA DC Leadership Conference, a four-day program introducing potential community leaders to national policymaking. Past participants describe the program as transformative, providing insight into civil rights advocacy and policy work in Washington, D.C.
• The Payoff, by Ryan Chin, V.P. Membership, page 8. JACL VP of Membership Ryan Chin reports a net increase of over 500 paid members following a concerted recruitment campaign, exceeding budget expectations. He details new membership brochures, credit union partnership incentives, and an upcoming direct mail campaign featuring endorsements from prominent Japanese Americans.

Community

• CCLPEP Announces Informational Meetings for Interested Grant Applicants, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program is holding informational meetings in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento for those seeking funding for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 projects about the Japanese American WWII experience. Legislation passed in 2003 removed the program’s prior sunset date.
• Korean War Vets to Add Mixed Japanese Heritage KIAs to Monument, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Japanese American Korean War Veterans Memorial Monument Committee has changed policy to include Korean War KIAs and MIAs of mixed Japanese heritage on their Los Angeles memorial. The group is also compiling a book of Japanese American veterans who served during the Korean War era.
• Workshop Scheduled for Proposed Bainbridge Island JA Memorial, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The National Park Service held public workshops on Bainbridge Island and in Seattle to gather input on plans for a memorial at the former Eagledale Ferry Dock, the departure site of the first Japanese Americans forcibly removed during WWII. A draft study is expected in 2004 before being forwarded to Congress.
• Greater L.A. Singles Chapter and Orange County Sansei Singles Host Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Over 200 singles attended the Tenth National JACL Singles Conference in El Segundo, featuring workshops on relationships, self-confidence, and wellness led by various psychologists and coaches. The event was coordinated by Miyako Kadagowa of the Greater L.A. Singles chapter.
• Boise Valley, Sawtooth and Pocatello-Blackfoot Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Idaho JACL chapters participated in a conference for history and social science educators, presenting displays on the Japanese American experience and the Minidoka internment camp. Presenters discussed parallels between WWII internment and post-9/11 experiences.
• Reunion Held in Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Former Placer County Nikkei and their spouses held their third reunion at the Sacramento Hilton, featuring a golf tournament, banquet, and social events. Nearly 174 attendees signed in for the banquet, including the oldest attendee, a 1935 Placer High School graduate.

In-Depth

• ‘Nisei Voices’ Celebrates JA Students of the 1930s, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Joyce Hirohata spent nearly four years tracking down valedictorians featured in her grandfather’s 1930s book of Nisei student orations, many of whom were later incarcerated during WWII. Her expanded edition, ‘Nisei Voices,’ will be celebrated with a book signing event in San Francisco.

Sports

• Salt Lake City Golf Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The eighth annual JACL benefit golf tournament was held in Salt Lake City, chaired by JACL National President Floyd Mori, raising funds for youth scholarship and leadership programs. Winners were listed across multiple flights for both men’s and women’s divisions.
• $3.4 Million Lawsuit Alleges Anti-Asian Hostility in Baseball, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Former MLB employee Juri Morioka sued Major League Baseball for $3.4 million, alleging she was subjected to racial slurs and fired after complaining. MLB says an EEOC investigation found the charges unfounded.
• Ohno Wins Men’s 500-meter Speed Skating Event, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. American Apolo Anton Ohno won the men’s 500-meter World Cup short track speed skating event in Marquette, Michigan, fending off Korean skaters in the final lap. Korea’s Eun-Kyung Choi won the women’s 500-meter event.
• Nuggets Waive Japanese Player, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. The Denver Nuggets waived guard Yuta Tabuse, who was attempting to become the first Japanese-born player in the NBA. Tabuse appeared in three preseason games, averaging 3.0 points and 2.7 assists.
• Morita Inducted Into Volleyball Hall of Fame, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Japan’s Jungo Morita, a member of Japan’s gold medal-winning 1972 Olympic volleyball team, was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Other inductees included beach volleyball star Sinjin Smith and international coaches.
• Reebok Signs Yao Ming to Help Expand Asian Market, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Reebok signed Houston Rockets center Yao Ming to a multiyear marketing deal to expand its presence in China after his Nike contract expired. Reebok hopes Yao’s popularity will help it capture a larger share of the Chinese athletic market ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• South Korea’s Ahn Wins First LPGA Title, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Rookie Shi-hyun Ahn won her first LPGA title at the CJ Nine Bridges Classic on Jeju Island, South Korea, finishing three strokes ahead of Se Ri Pak and others. The win qualifies Ahn to compete in most LPGA tournaments for the next two years without needing to qualify.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘A Most Unlikely Hero’ Now Available to JACL Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A new documentary, ‘A Most Unlikely Hero,’ chronicles Capt. Bruce Yamashita’s historic discrimination case against the U.S. Marine Corps. JACL chapters can now purchase the film for educational and outreach purposes, with opportunities to host screenings featuring Yamashita and the filmmaker.

Obituaries

• Arthur Barnett, Lawyer Who Fought WWII Internment, Dead at 96, by Associated Press, page 11. Arthur G. Barnett, one of the first civil rights lawyers in the Pacific Northwest, died at age 96 after helping represent Gordon Hirabayashi and advocating for redress for Japanese American internees. His efforts contributed to the 1988 congressional approval of compensation for surviving internees.
• Madame Chiang Kai-shek Passes at Age 105 in Manhattan, by Associated Press, page 11. Madame Chiang Kai-shek, former first lady of Taiwan and wife of President Chiang Kai-shek, died at her Manhattan home at age 105. She was remembered for her diplomatic role during WWII, successfully persuading the U.S. Congress to support China against Japan.

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