Vol. 145, No. 1, July 6, 2007. 12 pages. View this issue
Immigration and memory ran through this 12-page issue. After the Senate failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform on June 28, Asian Pacific American groups called on the House to act, and Lynda Lin reported from Seattle, where the Central District’s Japanese American community was debating a new day labor center for Latino immigrants. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom covered former internees protesting a proposed 13,000-heifer feedlot near the Minidoka site in Idaho. Twenty-five years after Vincent Chin’s killing, community groups held conferences and screenings in his memory.
Also inside: the JACL Youth Council’s Vision Award for attorney Dale Minami, the Topaz and Heart Mountain ceremonies marking National Historic Landmark status, and a Supreme Court ruling on school integration plans. Floyd Mori wrote about recruiting younger JACL members, and Chizu Iiyama defended 1st Lt. Ehren Watada. A Q&A with Princeton’s Brigham Walker and chapter scholarship news round out the issue.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Seattle JA Community Hopes to Find Common Ground with Day Labor Center, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Seattle’s Central District Japanese American community is debating the arrival of Casa Latina, a day labor center for Latino immigrants, amid concerns over safety and anti-immigration sentiment. Both sides are holding community meetings to find common ground after heated exchanges in local newspapers.’
- Judge Takasugi Honored with Public Service Award, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Federal Judge Robert M. Takasugi received the UCLA Alumni Association 2007 Public Service Award for his over 30-year commitment to the courts. Takasugi was the first Japanese American appointed to the federal bench.
- AAJA To Honor APA Journalists, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The Asian American Journalists Association will posthumously honor journalist Sam Chu Lin with a lifetime achievement award at its August gala in Miami. Former Honolulu Star Bulletin owner Chinn Ho will also be honored.
- San Diego JACL Scholarship Program Celebrates 50th Anniversary, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The San Diego JACL celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Tetsuden Kashima Memorial Scholarship by honoring this year’s top scholars. Two scholarships were awarded this year to Ashley Takahashi and Shawn Teeter.
- Puyallup Awards $1,500 Scholarship to Sasaki, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The Puyallup Valley JACL awarded its scholarship to Byron Sasaki, a senior at Emerald Ridge High School named one of 20 outstanding seniors. He plans to attend Oregon State University in the fall.
- Salt Lake, Mt. Olympus Award Scholarships, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The Salt Lake and Mt. Olympus JACL chapters honored five outstanding scholarship recipients. Winners included Sydney Shiba, Jillian Teru Paun, Laney Kawaguchi, Reiko Turner, and Kamauri Yeh.
- ‘Salute To Our Veterans’ to be Held Aboard USS Hornet, page 5. The JACL NCWNP district will honor Japanese American WWII and Korean War veterans at an event aboard the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda on Aug. 12. The event includes tours, a silent auction, bento lunch, and screenings of the film ‘Only the Brave.’
Sports
- Tiger to Roar Overseas in World Football Competition, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Princeton football player Brigham Walker, a Yonsei, is the only Princetonian and Asian Pacific American on the U.S. team competing in the IFAF World Championship of American Football in Japan. The Q&A explores his athletic career, his decision to attend Princeton, and his upcoming trip to Japan, his great-grandparents’ homeland.
- Football Q&A Continued: Brigham Walker on Princeton, Family, and Japan, page 7. This continuation of the Brigham Walker interview covers his decision to attend Princeton over Oregon State, his career-defining moments, and his family’s pride in his achievements. He also discusses his upcoming trip to Japan and his post-football plans in molecular biology.
Incarceration & Redress
- Former Internees Raise their Voices in Protest Over a Proposed Feedlot Near the Historic Minidoka Site, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Despite Minidoka being named one of America’s most endangered historic places, a proposed 13,000-heifer feedlot a mile upwind from the site is still being considered by Jerome County, Idaho. Former internees like Jeff Itami, who lost family members at the camp, are protesting the proposal alongside JACL and environmental groups.
- Topaz, Heart Mountain Relocation Centers Celebrate Nat’l Historic Landmark Status, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. The Topaz and Heart Mountain WWII relocation centers celebrated their designation as National Historic Landmarks in separate ceremonies. Norman Mineta was honored at the Heart Mountain ceremony, which also unveiled plans for a $5.5 million Interpretive Learning Center.
- Minidoka Feedlot Controversy Continued, page 12. This continuation article details the ongoing protest by former Minidoka internees against a proposed feedlot near the historic site, including comparisons to putting a feedlot beside Dachau. Local residents and environmental groups join JACL in raising concerns about health, environmental, and historical impacts, while Jerome County Commissioners have yet to schedule a hearing.
National
- U.S. Lawmakers Endorse Resolution Seeking Japan’s Apology for Wartime Sex Slavery, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 1. A U.S. congressional panel overwhelmingly endorsed HR 121, a resolution urging Japan to formally apologize for coercing women into wartime sexual slavery. Japan’s government maintains the alliance with the U.S. remains unshakable and suggested no further apology would be forthcoming.
- APA Community Groups Remember Vincent Chin, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Twenty-five years after his murder, Asian Pacific American organizations commemorated the death of Vincent Chin, whose 1982 killing became a rallying cry against hate crimes. Groups held conferences and screenings of the documentary ‘Who Killed Vincent Chin?’ while noting hate crimes against APAs continue today.
- Supreme Court Rules Against Schools’ Voluntary Integration Policies, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against the use of race in voluntary school integration plans in Seattle and Louisville, a decision APA groups say limits options for promoting diversity. Asian Pacific American organizations had filed an amicus brief supporting the school districts’ race-conscious assignment policies.
- After Immigration Bill Dies in the Senate, APA Groups are Calling on the House for Action, by P.C. and Associated Press, page 5. Asian Pacific American groups expressed disappointment after the Senate failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation on June 28. Rep. Mike Honda and other APA leaders are now calling on the House of Representatives to take action on immigration reform.
JACL
- JACL Youth Honor Attorney Dale Minami with Vision Award, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The National JACL Youth Council honored civil rights attorney Dale Minami with a Vision Award at their biennial Youth Conference at Santa Clara University. Minami, known for helping overturn Fred Korematsu’s WWII conviction, discussed his civil rights journey and connection to younger generations.
- NJAMF Elects New Chairman of the Board, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Dr. Craig Uchida was elected chairman of the board for the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation. Uchida has served on the board since 2000 and is also president of the Washington, D.C. JACL chapter.
- JACL Takes Part in Rally Demanding Restoration of Fundamental Freedoms, page 4. JACL joined thousands of advocates on Capitol Hill for the Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice, delivering over 250,000 petition signatures demanding restoration of habeas corpus and due process. Sen. Patrick Leahy referenced the Japanese American internment as a cautionary example during the rally.
- JACL Supports Muslim H.S. Student, page 4. JACL issued support for a young Muslim student who was confronted by a school lunchroom supervisor demanding she remove her hijab. National JACL President Larry Oda called for a public apology from the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
- JACL Youth Conference Honors Dale Minami’s Legacy, page 11. This continuation piece details Dale Minami’s upbringing in Gardena, his involvement in civil rights issues inspired by the 1965 Watts Riots, and his eventual role in overturning Fred Korematsu’s WWII conviction. JACL Executive Director Floyd Mori and Youth Council Chair Kimberly Shintaku praise Minami’s decades of community service.
Commentary
- Our Work Must Go On, by Floyd Mori, page 2. JACL National Director Floyd Mori discusses the aging membership of JACL and the urgent need to recruit younger members. He highlights efforts like the JACL Young Professionals group and previews upcoming events including the Salute to Champions gala and the 2008 national convention in Salt Lake City.
- Thanks for the Hard Work, by Emily Teruya and Wilma, page 2. A letter to the editor thanks volunteers who helped organize the NCWNP-sponsored dinner honoring John Tateishi. The writers specifically thank numerous individuals and sponsors including AT&T and the Diablo Valley chapter.
- Re: ‘Telling the Whole Story’, page 2. A letter from the German American Internee Coalition thanks the Pacific Citizen for its article on WWII internment, noting their efforts to include German American and Latin American experiences in the national dialogue on internment. They express gratitude for coverage helping publicize their cause alongside efforts like the Tuna Canyon historical designation.
- The Bright Future of JA Youth, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. A recent UCLA graduate reflects on her transition from Asian American Studies activism to working part-time at a Japanese restaurant. She explores her ongoing exploration of Japanese American identity through her new job while questioning her future involvement in community activism.
- A Patriot and Hero, by Chizu Iiyama, page 8. The writer argues in support of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, the Army officer facing court martial for refusing deployment to Iraq, comparing him to WWII resisters like Fred Korematsu and the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee. She calls on the Japanese American community to recognize Watada’s stand as courageous and patriotic.
- Secret Asian Man: Remember Vincent Chin, by Tak Toyoshima, page 9. This comic strip commemorates the 25th anniversary of Vincent Chin’s murder, recounting how he was beaten to death by two men who blamed him for their job losses in the auto industry. The strip notes that violent hate crimes against Asians persist and continue to rise despite the passage of time.
Military & Veterans
- Kanegai Inducted into Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The Military Intelligence Corps honored six Army veterans including the late Maj. Yoshio ‘George’ Kanegai at its 20th annual Hall of Fame Ceremony. Other Japanese American honorees included Col. Harry K. Fukuhara and Lt. Col. Richard M. Sakakida among others.
Arts & Entertainment
- Is Dustin Nguyen (gulp) Experiencing a Comeback?, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Actor Dustin Nguyen, known for ’21 Jump Street,’ discusses overcoming his wife’s paralyzing accident, his advocacy for stem cell research, and his return to Vietnam to film ‘The Rebel.’ He also touches on his other recent film projects and the unlikelihood of a ’21 Jump Street’ reunion.
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