A lawsuit over bilingual voting aid and a civil liberties award for JACL

Vol. 74, No. 20, May 26, 1972. 6 pages. View this issue

A court challenge to California’s ban on helping non-English-speaking voters at the polls led the May 26, 1972 issue. The suit argues that Election Code Section 14217 violates due process and the right to vote. Also on page one, the ACLU of Northern California announced it would present JACL with its first Alexander Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Award for the campaign to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act. Another front-page story put JACL membership at 22,952, about 90 percent of last year’s renewals.

On the opinion pages, the Nichi Bei Times and the San Mateo JACL both objected to a clothing label that used a racial slur, and Robert M. Takasugi wrote about Issei welfare rights. Diane Aramaki described plans for the first separate Jr. JACL convention. Page 5 has book reviews and notice of an exhibit of camp art by Henry Sugimoto and Miné Okubo.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Calif. Law Barring Bilingual Aid at Polls Questioned as Suit Filed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A lawsuit was filed challenging California Election Code Section 14217, which bars assistance to non-English-speaking voters at the polls. The petitioners argue the law violates due process and the right to vote, and note that legislative repeal efforts have been vetoed by Governor Reagan.

Commentary

• ACLU Award to Cite JACL for Title II Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The ACLU of Northern California will present its first Alexander Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Award to JACL for its campaign to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act. The award recognizes JACL’s National Committee to Repeal the Emergency Detention Act, which helped win House passage of the Matsunaga bill.
• Prescription for Success, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dayton JACL’s successful Japan Week, featuring Rep. Spark Matsunaga as keynote speaker, is praised as a model of chapter enthusiasm. The column notes the chapter’s dinner drew some 300 attendees.
• Welfare for Issei, by Robert M. Takasugi, page 2. JACL legal counsel Takasugi criticizes the Japanese Chamber of Commerce for publicly naming a welfare recipient in a dispute over Issei welfare rights. He notes his own lawsuit against Los Angeles County and California to protect Issei rights.
• Student Aid, by Roy M. Nishikawa, page 2. Nishikawa argues the JACL Student Aid Program was omitted from the basic budget and urges the Executive Committee to show leadership. He invites delegates to confer with him at the convention.
• Kenzo’s Trademark, by Eugene T. Moriguchi, page 2. The San Mateo JACL protests fashion designer Kenzo Takada’s use of the term JAP as a clothing label. The letter asks publications to refrain from using the offensive term.
• Boycott Takada’s Offensive Label, by Yasuo Wm. Abiko, page 2. The Nichi Bei Times editorial calls for a boycott of Kenzo Takada’s Kenzo by Jap label, citing the term’s racist history during the wartime incarceration. It urges publications and retailers to refuse the label.
• Spark Matsunaga at Dayton, by Rep. Spark Matsunaga, page 2. Rep. Matsunaga’s speech surveys Asia and Pacific trends toward stability and peace, including the Nixon visit to China and U.S.-Soviet relations. He advocates a US Department of Peace and notes remaining problem areas.
• Chapter Stand on UFWOC Tests JACL Organizational Ties, by Shig Wakamatsu, page 2. Wakamatsu questions the Chicago JACL Board’s resolution supporting the United Farmworkers Organizing Committee. He argues it could strain JACL’s unity with rural chapters that have historically supported urban ones.
• U-No Bar, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A former JACL staff leader reflects on the FOX field operations program designed to involve chapters in civil rights and community work. He discusses the tension between serving members and engaging broader Asian American and activist communities.
• Joseph Nishimura Named Senior V.P. at Golden West, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Golden West Financial named Joseph Y. Nishimura senior vice president-finance, citing his experience in financial administration and data processing. Nishimura previously headed Cubit Systems and held accounting posts.

Community

• San Mateo Nurse Transferred Back, JACL Gratified, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Mateo JACL thanked Dr. George Pickett for resolving the transfer of Nisei public health nurse Suzu Kunitani from a north central area serving Nikkei residents. She has been recalled to her former position.
• Growing Pains and Responsibility, by P.C. Staff, page 2. San Diego JACL has served as fiscal agent for a $15,000 county grant for the Asian American Drug Education project. The project has expanded into counseling, speaking engagements and community resource referral.
• Beginnings ’72: Jr. JACLers Gear for Their First Separate Convention, by Diane Aramaki, page 3. The 1972 Jr. National Convention, held separately from the Sr. Convention at the University of Utah, aims to develop programs relevant to young Asians. Planning involves all districts and emphasizes participation and leadership.
• Little Tokyo Good Samaritans Aid Distressed Tourist from Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Little Tokyo residents assisted a Japanese tourist who had fallen into distress. The story highlights community helpfulness in the Los Angeles neighborhood.

JACL

• JACL Olympics Set for Kezar June 11, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Francisco JACL Olympics will be held at Kezar Stadium on June 11 with competition in several age and skill categories. Chairman Hank Obayashi has distributed entry blanks.
• Planning Commission Discussion: Regional Programs, Federated Plan and Education, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Members of the National JACL Planning Commission discuss regionalization, the Federated Plan, membership support and funding constraints. The conversation also covers the Education program, Visual Communications materials and the Endowment Fund.
• JACL Membership Nears 23,000 or 90 Pct. Renewal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. As of May 1, 22,952 members had paid 1972 dues, 90.7 percent of last year’s enrollment. Northern California-Western Nevada leads all districts, and San Francisco JACL passed the 1,000-member mark for the 16th straight year.

National

• Mayors’ Conference Blasts Gov. Wallace Attack; Seattle Redevelopment Plan Discussed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Conference of Mayors condemned the attack on Gov. Wallace and urged revenue sharing, while Seattle held a community meeting on an International District redevelopment plan. Residents voiced concerns about hotel housing and the needs of Asian elders.

Arts & Entertainment

• Asian Flavors Cookbook Review, by Yuki K., page 5. A review of Kay Kelko Shimizu’s Asian Flavors, an introduction to Japanese and Chinese cooking with practical tips for home cooks. The reviewer praises its conversational style and completeness.
• Book Review: The East India Company, by Allan Beekman, page 5. A review of Brian Gardner’s history of the East India Company, covering its trade ventures in the Far East and its growth into a powerful force in India. The review also covers reforms such as the suppression of suttee.

Military & Veterans

• Camp Art Exhibition: Months of Waiting, by P.C. Staff, page 5. An art exhibit of works created by Japanese Americans in WWII relocation camps opens at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion June 18. The show features murals by Henry Sugimoto and drawings by Miné Okubo.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.