Ammy Awards, JACL budget cuts and the Nakamura courthouse push

Vol. 131, No. 17, October 20, 2000. 12 pages. View this issue

The Ammy Awards 2000 led the front page, with 1,200 guests gathering at the Hilton Universal City and Towers to honor Asian Americans in film and television. Tracy Uba reported on the evening, which drew Lucy Liu, Lauren Tom and Lisa Ling. Also on page 1, advocates pushed to name a Seattle courthouse after William Kenzo Nakamura, who died in Italy while his family was held at Minidoka. Caroline Aoyagi covered a campaign website that drew charges of racism, and Martha Nakagawa reported on the JACL national board’s response to a projected deficit, including a move to publish the Pacific Citizen semi-monthly.

Inside are the board’s clarification on the resisters of conscience resolution, Frank Abe’s documentary on draft resisters, and $5 million for the Manzanar National Historic Site. Ike Hatchimonji wrote about Wyoming’s letter of healing to Heart Mountain camp reunion attendees. Bill Marutani’s column looked at the memorial to be dedicated Nov. 9 in Washington, D.C.

What’s in this issue

Arts & Entertainment

• Ammy Awards 2000 Celebrates Asian Americans in Entertainment, by Tracy Uba, page 1. The Ammy Awards, co-presented by aMedia and APEX, drew 1,200 attendees to celebrate Asian American achievement in film and television at the Hilton Universal City and Towers. Stars including Lucy Liu, Lauren Tom, James Shigeta and Jack Ong spoke about the need for greater inclusion and recognition of Asian Americans in Hollywood.
• Frank Abe’s ‘Conscience and the Constitution’ to be Shown, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Frank Abe’s documentary telling the story of WWII draft resisters will air on PBS Nov. 30. The film examines the Fair Play Committee leaders who were imprisoned for resisting the draft until their rights as citizens were restored, and were later pardoned by President Truman in 1947.

National

• Activists Push to Get Seattle Courthouse Named After Nakamura, by Tracy Uba, page 1. Advocates are pushing to name a Seattle courthouse after William Kenzo Nakamura, a WWII Medal of Honor recipient who died fighting in Italy while his family was interned at Minidoka. The JACL passed a resolution supporting the effort, and bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate.
• Campaign Web Site Sparks Calls of Racism, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Republican candidate George Felando’s website depicted Democratic incumbent George Nakano as a ‘samurai warrior,’ drawing accusations of racism from JACL and other Asian American groups. Nakano called the portrayal offensive, while Felando refused to apologize or remove the content, saying the controversy helped his campaign.
• Asian American Groups Seek FBI Probe of Ocean Shores Stabbing, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Three Asian American groups, including JACL, are calling for an FBI investigation into hate crimes surrounding the fatal stabbing of Christopher Kinison, a white man who allegedly threatened Asian American brothers in Ocean Shores, Wash. The groups cited a pattern of racially motivated harassment by Kinison and his associates before the incident.
• Asian Pacific American Leaders Meet With Janet Reno, Bill Richardson on Wen Ho Lee Case, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Representatives from Asian Pacific American organizations met with Attorney General Janet Reno and Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to discuss the handling of the Wen Ho Lee case and concerns about racial profiling. Richardson outlined a five-point initiative to address discrimination at the Department of Energy.
• House Grants Manzanar $5 Million for Preservation, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The U.S. House passed provisions dedicating $5 million toward construction and development of the Manzanar National Historic Site. The funding will pay for a visitor center, administrative offices and staff to educate the public about the internment history at the site.
• National Japanese American Memorial to be Dedicated November 9 in D.C., by P.C. Staff, page 4. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation announced the memorial dedication ceremony will take place Nov. 9 in Washington, D.C., honoring JA patriotism during WWII despite internment. A new survey found nearly one-third of Americans polled were unaware of the government’s internment of Japanese Americans.
• Nakamura Courthouse Effort Details, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Additional details on the campaign to name a Seattle courthouse after William Nakamura describe supporter Steve Finley’s efforts and hopes that the tribute will educate future generations about the internment. The bill has moved through committees with support from Washington state’s congressional delegation.

JACL

• National Board Looks at Deficit Due to Shortfall in Revenue, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. The national JACL board voted to streamline operations and reduce Pacific Citizen publication to semi-monthly amid a projected $117,786 year-end deficit caused by falling membership revenue. The board also designated PC as a funded JACL program with a fixed budget of $240,000 for 2001.
• National Board Clarifies Position on Resisters of Conscience Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL national board issued a statement addressing backlash from WWII veterans over the resisters of conscience resolution passed at the Monterey convention. National President Floyd Mori expressed regret for any offense caused and offered to meet with veterans groups while affirming continued respect for Nisei veterans.
• JACL National Youth/Student Council Puts Forth Program for Action, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Nearly three days of workshops and discussions in Torrance produced a blueprint for the national youth/student council’s next two years of activities. The program for action includes attention to hate crimes affecting students and development of a new youth-specific JACL brochure and website.
• JACL National Board Meeting, Oct. 6-8, by Martha Nakagawa, page 10. A detailed summary of actions taken at the JACL national board’s quarterly meeting, covering committee reorganizations, fund-raising strategy, the Legacy Fund allocation debate, and reports from various officers including the national president and treasurer. The board also discussed education committee restructuring and youth council conference plans.
• Chapters Asked to Send in Calendar of Events for Insurance Policy, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The national board declined to bill individual JACL chapters for liability insurance premiums but asked chapters to submit event calendars to determine insurance rates. Fifty chapters had not responded by the board meeting deadline, and non-responding chapters will be automatically charged $200.

Commentary

• Our ‘House’, page 2. A commentary reflecting on the author’s decision to accept the JACL convention’s resolution on draft resisters despite disagreement. The piece urges those who disagree to either stay within JACL and work constructively or leave with dignity.
• Hawaiian Identification, by Alan Seekman, page 2. A letter to the editor challenges the notion that only Aborigines of Hawaii should be considered ‘Hawaiian,’ arguing that all valid residents of Hawaii regardless of ancestry deserve that identification. The writer criticizes the sovereignty movement and suggests mainland JACL reconsider its support.
• Just Asking, page 2. A letter questions details of the National Japanese American Memorial inscriptions, noting that about 40,000 internees were Issei who were denied citizenship until 1952. The writer also asks whether Sadao Munemori, the only WWII JA Medal of Honor recipient until recently, should be specifically mentioned on the memorial.
• Supporting Our Youth, page 2. The writer praises the national youth and student council’s planning retreat held Sept. 16-17, led by Matthew Nakata, Amy Matsumoto and Gerald Kato. The letter commends the young leaders for representing JACL well and bringing energy back into the organization.
• Community Rallies Support for Bob Bratt, by Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress, page 8. NCRR urges Congress to investigate the DOJ inspector general’s treatment of Robert Bratt, former administrator of the Office of Redress Administration, after a three-and-a-half year investigation found no criminal charges. The group praises Bratt’s dedicated service delivering redress payments to Japanese American internees.
• The Senpai-Gumi, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Columnist Bill Marutani recounts his history with the Go For Broke National Veterans Association, which he was recruited to lead in 1989 by Mike Masaoka. He reflects on how the group’s persistence led to the establishment of the National Japanese American Memorial, to be dedicated Nov. 9 in Washington, D.C.

Community

• AA Studies Fellowships Now Available, by P.C. Staff, page 4. UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center is offering a postdoctoral fellowship for 2001-2002 ranging from $25,000 to $30,000 for research on Asian Pacific Americans. Applications are due Dec. 30.
• Filipino American Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Will Join Nikkei CMH at Oct. 22 Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Rudolph Davila, the second Filipino American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, will speak at the Legendary Valor luncheon on Oct. 22 in Beverly Hills. Davila hopes to raise awareness of Filipino American contributions during WWII.
• CCLPEP Grant Information Meetings Scheduled, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program announced a schedule of informational meetings across California for organizations interested in applying for fiscal year 2000-2001 funding. The program educates Californians about the Japanese American WWII experience.
• Karen Narasaki Exhorts AA Utahns to Political Activism, by Karen Okawa and Yas Tokita, page 5. Karen Narasaki, executive director of NAPALC, spoke to Utah JACL chapters and the Utah OCA about underrepresentation of Asian Americans in media and the need for political activism. She encouraged attendees to vote and get involved in community leadership roles.
• Other Camp Updates: Heart Mountain and Manzanar, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Updates from Heart Mountain include a teacher training workshop, honor roll compilation efforts by Bacon Sakatani, and archival donations placed in a bank vault by LaDonna Zall. Manzanar updates include a search for a new superintendent and $150,000 in funding to recreate camp fencing and signage.

In-Depth

• Wyoming Reconciles, by Ike Hatchimonji, page 9. Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer and Powell Mayor James Milburn sent a letter of healing to attendees of the Heart Mountain camp reunion, acknowledging the hardships faced by internees. The article details the historical anti-Japanese sentiment in Wyoming during WWII and praises the governor’s gesture of reconciliation.

Obituaries

• Japan JACL Stalwart Ted Shigeno Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Ted Shigeno, longtime membership chair of the Japan JACL chapter and U.S.-Japan Relations Committee contributor, died suddenly of a stroke. He had stayed in Japan after the war, raising five sons and working in securities before his death.
• Judge Kenneth Saruwatari, 78, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Retired Oahu District Judge Kenneth Saruwatari, a 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran and Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, died Sept. 9 in Honolulu. He earned his law degree at Rutgers University and served as a judge until retiring in 1986.

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