Vol. 130, No. 24, June 16, 2000. 8 pages. View this issue
Dr. Wen Ho Lee’s case led the news. On June 8, Asian Pacific Americans in 12 cities held a national Day of Outrage to denounce racial profiling and demand due process for the former Los Alamos scientist, six months after his incarceration began. Martha Nakagawa reported on the rallies, on Energy Secretary Bill Richardson’s denial of profiling, and on community leaders who vowed to keep watching the case until Lee receives a fair trial.
Much of the rest looked ahead to the JACL national convention in Monterey. Inside are the Japanese American of the Biennium awardees, including Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi, the Edison Uno Civil Rights Award for Ross Hopkins of the Manzanar National Historic Site, the Min Yasui Oratorical Competition, and David K. Hayashi on the proposed biennium budget. Letters on draft resisters and redress fill page 7, and Naomi Hirahara writes about Watsonville.
What’s in this issue
National
- Lee Supporters Stage National Day of Outrage, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. Asian Pacific American groups staged Day of Outrage rallies in 12 cities to denounce racial profiling and demand due process for Dr. Wen Ho Lee, a former Los Alamos scientist charged with mishandling classified documents. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson denied racial profiling while community activists and JACL leaders continued to push for fair treatment and Lee’s release on bail.
- Wen Ho Lee Case Continued Coverage, by Martha Nakagawa, page 8. The article continues coverage of the Wen Ho Lee case, detailing reactions from New Mexico JACL’s Tokuda, New York activist Ling, and Seattle organizer Mei-Ling Hsu, all questioning the government’s handling of the case. Community leaders including Kwoh vowed to continue monitoring the case through rallies, letters to Attorney General Reno, and fundraisers until Lee receives a fair trial.
JACL
- Preparing for the Next Biennium Budget, by David K. Hayashi, page 1. JACL’s National Secretary/Treasurer explains the process behind the 2001-2002 biennium budget, including a proposed $3 dues increase and new fundraising initiatives. He urges chapter delegates to carefully review the budget before voting at the national convention.
- JACL Selects JA of the Biennium Awardees, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL announced that Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi, Assemblyman Mike Honda, and Paul Akio Kawata will receive the Japanese American of the Biennium Award at the national convention in Monterey. The article details each honoree’s contributions to civil rights, politics, and public health advocacy.
- Ross Hopkins to Receive JACL’s Edison Uno Civil Rights Award, by P.C. Staff, page 4. National JACL will honor Ross Hopkins, former superintendent of the Manzanar National Historic Site, with the Edison Uno Civil Rights Award for his role in establishing the site despite local opposition. The awards luncheon will also present the JACLer of the Biennium Award and the George Inagaki Chapter Citizenship Award.
- 2000 Min Yasui Oratorical Competition, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL will hold the 2000 Min Yasui Oratorical Competition at the national convention in Monterey, with six district finalists competing on the topic of how the Japanese American community would differ had internment not occurred. The competition honors Min Yasui, one of three Nisei who challenged the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans.
- Igasaki to Speak at Monterey Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Paul Igasaki, vice chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will address the JACL national convention in Monterey. Igasaki has a long history with JACL as a Washington representative and previously served as executive director of the Asian Law Caucus.
Sports
- Lindsay Kagawa Shines at Stanford, by Lyndsey Shinoda, page 1. Lindsay Kiyoko Kagawa, a Hapa Yonsei from Albany, Calif., served as starting setter and co-captain for Stanford’s women’s volleyball team, which reached the NCAA championship final. Kagawa reflects on her volleyball career, academic honors, and plans for her senior year.
- Record Number of APAs to Represent Washington at DNC, by P.C. Staff, page 6. At the Washington State Democratic Convention in Spokane, a record number of Asian Pacific Americans were selected to represent Washington at the Democratic National Convention. The brief item notes this milestone in APA political representation.
Community
- Kee Kitayama Memorial Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Watsonville-Santa Cruz chapter of JACL announced its 2000 high school scholarship recipients, including Teri Allyson Ikegami, Kristopher Y. Aoki, and Kimiko Usuki, each receiving $700. The scholarships were made possible through the Kitayama Foundation and donors to the Day of Remembrance Education Fund.
- A Salute to Gardena City Councilman Terauchi, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A salute event was held on June 7 at the Normandie Showroom in Gardena honoring City Councilman Terry Terauchi. The event was attended by former officials including Dr. Paul Tsukahara, Mayor Don Dear, and former Assemblyman Paul Bannai.
Commentary
- Sentimental Journey to Watsonville, by Naomi Hirahara, page 6. The author recalls childhood summer trips to her father’s hometown of Watsonville, remembering the lettuce fields, a Victorian family house, and sweet frozen strawberries. On a recent return trip for research, she discovered a more complex Watsonville marked by farm labor tensions and social segregation, alongside its enduring beauty.
- Why JACL Needs to Get Back on the Right Track, page 7. A letter writer urges JACL to pass a resolution honoring WWII draft resisters of conscience at the upcoming Monterey convention, arguing that draft resisters’ rights and JACL both represent fundamental civil rights principles. The writer calls for unity between JACL and resisters before the Nisei generation passes into history.
- Nisei VFW Post 8985 and the Resisters, page 7. A letter writer criticizes the Nisei VFW for continued intolerance toward WWII draft resisters, arguing that Heart Mountain resisters were responsible community members who were unfairly blamed for internment camp tensions. The author contends common sense dispels claims that resisters harmed fellow internees.
- Letter on JACL and Redress Settlement, page 7. A letter writer criticizes JACL for not fully committing resources to ongoing redress cases despite the incomplete victory of Mochizuki v. U.S. Government. The writer argues JACL should dedicate more manpower to pursuing full justice through the courts rather than accepting partial settlements.
- Letter on National Japanese American Memorial Controversy, page 7. A letter writer responds to criticism about speaking out against aspects of the National Japanese American Memorial, arguing that many Japanese Americans were not kept informed about the monument’s planning process. The writer defends continued public discussion of the issue, citing the maxim that ‘it ain’t over til it’s over.’
Obituaries
- Dr. William Takahashi, 86, Mile-Hi’s Six-term Chapter President, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Dr. William Takahashi, who served six terms as Mile-Hi JACL chapter president between 1979 and 1990, died at age 86. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington and later studies at the University of Michigan, and was married to short-story writer Mary Howard Constable.
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