Vol. 142, No. 8, May 5, 2006. 12 pages. View this issue
Immigration and civil rights ran through the May 5, 2006 issue. The JACL signed onto amicus briefs challenging the Bush Administration’s warrantless surveillance program, with Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reporting on the parallels drawn to the surveillance of Japanese Americans before World War II. Other pages covered nationwide May Day rallies for immigration reform, an Associated Press look at the backlogs facing legal immigrants, and Lynda Lin’s report on South Asian store owners in Georgia who alleged racial profiling. The paper also remembered former JACL president Hank Tanaka, with a column by Bill Yoshino.
Also inside: a profile of 92-year-old Denver painter Jack Suzuki, a Yale silent protest, and an interview with filmmaker Julia Kwan. Registration news for the 2006 Tule Lake Pilgrimage and the JACL National Convention appeared on page 5. Sports pages followed Lee Seung-yeop, Michelle Wie and Yao Ming. In all, 12 pages.
What’s in this issue
National
- JACL Signs Onto Amicus Briefs Challenging NSA Domestic Spying Program, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. The JACL joined the ACLU and Center for Constitutional Rights lawsuits challenging the Bush Administration’s warrantless surveillance program, drawing parallels to pre-WWII surveillance of Japanese Americans. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi and other civil rights leaders warned that targeting Arab and Muslim communities today echoes the injustices JAs faced before internment.
- Legal Immigrants Face Huge Hurdles in Becoming Citizens, by Associated Press, page 1. The complicated U.S. legal immigration system creates massive backlogs, forcing families like Kshitij Bedi’s to wait years or decades to reunite, as demand for visas far outstrips the limited supply. Experts say the rigid categories and quotas, largely unchanged since 1965, leave many with no legal path to immigrate at all.
- Georgia’s South Asian Community Alleges Racial Profiling, by Lynda Lin, page 1. A DEA sting called Operation Meth Merchant disproportionately targeted South Asian-owned convenience stores in Georgia, with the ACLU alleging ethnic bias in how informants were directed. Store owners say the operation has devastated their businesses and reputations despite lack of evidence of wrongdoing.
- JACL Announces Edison Uno and JA of the Biennium Awards, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Sandra Tanamachi received the Edison Uno Memorial Civil Rights Award for her twelve-year campaign to rename ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane’ in Texas. Cedar Grove Productions founders Chris Tashima and Tim Toyama received the JA of the Biennium Award for their filmmaking work highlighting Japanese American history.
- Nisei Veterans to Host 2006 Memorial Day Event, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Japanese American veterans groups will gather May 27 at the Japanese American National War Memorial Court in Little Tokyo to honor JAs killed in action across multiple wars. The ceremony will include Gold Star mothers and plans for a new monument listing additional names of the fallen.
- TLC to Purchase Historic Joy Kogawa House, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Land Conservancy of British Columbia announced it will purchase the historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, preventing its demolition. Author Joy Kogawa expressed emotional gratitude, and TLC continues fundraising efforts to restore the site as an educational center.
In-Depth
- At Age 92, Painter Jack Suzuki Continues to Inspire, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Denver artist Jack Suzuki began painting at age 77 after the death of his wife, and his abstract works now hang permanently in a university library. Suzuki, a WWII Military Intelligence Service veteran, remains humble about his talent despite admiration from students and instructors.
Community
- National Protests Erupt as Immigrants Rally for Reform on May Day, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Immigrants and advocates, including many Asian Pacific Americans, took to the streets nationwide on May 1 to protest anti-immigration legislation and demand comprehensive immigration reform. Groups like NAKASEC and the Pilipino Workers Center emphasized that immigration policy directly affects APA communities as well as Latino communities.
- Deadline Closing In for Tule Lake Pilgrimage, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Registration for the 2006 Tule Lake Pilgrimage, themed ‘Dignity and Survival in a Divided Community,’ closes May 31 with space limited to 300 people. The pilgrimage will examine the stories of JA dissenters who renounced their citizenship and will celebrate the site’s new National Historic Landmark designation.
Obituaries
- In Memoriam: Former JACL President Hank Tanaka Passes, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. Henry T. ‘Hank’ Tanaka, a pioneer in the mental health field and former JACL national president from 1983 to 1985, passed away April 26 at age 90. He was a lifelong advocate for redress and social justice within the JACL and Cleveland community.
- Chi Mui, First Asian Mayor for San Gabriel, Dies at 53, by Associated Press, page 11. Chi Mui, who made history as San Gabriel’s first Asian American mayor, died of cancer just weeks after being sworn in. An immigrant from China, Mui was a longtime community activist in Los Angeles’ Chinatown before his political career.
Commentary
- Debunking Stereotypes: Silence, Then Dialogue at Yale, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Yale students staged a silent protest after two articles in a student tabloid used racist stereotypes about Asian Pacific Americans and interracial dating. The controversy sparked campus-wide forums and dialogue about racial humor and stereotyping in college life.
- A Labor of Love, by Roger Ozaki, page 2. P.C. board member Roger Ozaki reflects on the dedication of the small Pacific Citizen staff and urges readers to support the newspaper’s Spring Campaign. He praises the team’s commitment to reporting news for the Asian American community despite limited resources.
- A Tribute to Hiromi, by Douglas Urata, page 2. A letter to the editor honors the late Hiromi Ueha, a rising JACL leader who served as National Youth/Student Council chair and PSW district governor before her untimely death at age 33. The writer recalls her dedication and describes a trust fund established for her 15-year-old son Chandler.
- A Debt of Gratitude to Hank Tanaka, by Bill Yoshino, page 8. MDC Regional Director Bill Yoshino reflects on Hank Tanaka’s life, from his bitter WWII internment experience to his decades of dedicated service to the JACL and social justice causes. Yoshino recounts Tanaka’s redress testimony and his transformation from shame to pride in his heritage.
- Beyond Boba, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. A UCLA student columnist describes her experience volunteering at a Taiwanese American student conference despite not being Taiwanese herself, drawing parallels to cross-community solidarity like Yuri Kochiyama’s civil rights activism. She argues that ethnic communities’ struggles are interconnected rather than insular issues affecting only one group.
JACL
- Early Bird Registration Deadline Extended to May 31, by Ted Namba, page 5. The 2006 JACL National Convention chairperson announces an extended registration deadline and updates on hotel accommodations due to resort remodeling. Convention attendees are encouraged to respond promptly to upcoming questionnaires to help organizers plan events.
Sports
- South Korean Lee Right at Home on Japan’s Team, by P.C. Staff, page 7. South Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop has successfully adapted to batting cleanup for the Yomiuri Giants, posting strong numbers after leaving the Chiba Lotte Marines. Lee, who broke Sadaharu Oh’s Asian home run record in 2003, also led South Korea to the semifinals of the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
- Michelle Wie Arrives in South Korea for Men’s Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Michelle Wie traveled to South Korea to compete in the Asian Tour’s SK Telecom Open, her eighth attempt to make a cut in a men’s professional golf tournament. Regarded by many Koreans as one of their own due to her heritage, Wie also donated $300,000 to a Korean medical endowment for children’s surgeries.
- Yao Recovering Well from Surgery, May Appear at World Championships, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is recovering from foot surgery and his agent says he could still appear at this summer’s world basketball championships in Japan. Yao suggested former NBA player Wang Zhizhi could replace him on the Chinese national team if he is unable to play.
Arts & Entertainment
- Fire Horse Woman, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Chinese Canadian filmmaker Julia Kwan discusses her Sundance-winning debut film ‘Eve and the Fire Horse,’ which explores two sisters navigating family, religion, and immigrant identity. Kwan spent nine years writing the semi-autobiographical script before it won the festival’s Special Jury Prize.
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