Vol. 70, No. 5, February 6, 1970. 6 pages. View this issue
The fight to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act ran through this six-page issue. The Seattle City Council passed a JACL-initiated repeal resolution, the State Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii backed Sen. Hiram Fong, and the Senate passed S.1872 to repeal the Emergency Detention Act of 1950. On the commentary pages, National JACL President Jerry Enomoto reviewed the organization’s direction, David Ota wrote on identity and the legacy of the 442nd, and Hiroshi Kanno linked the raids on the Black Panthers to the wartime incarceration.
Elsewhere, Ray Okamura described a return to the Manzanar cemetery for a cleanup and memorial service, and Bill Hosokawa recalled the Heart Mountain camp in a talk to Wyoming editors. The Los Angeles City Council approved the Little Tokyo Redevelopment Plan. San Francisco JACL set an Alcatraz Day supply drive, and a reader, Yumi Nagata, wrote in to say the paper spoke too little to younger readers.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Progressive Westside JACL Installation Banquet Set for Feb. 14, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Southern California JACL chapters will jointly host a banquet and installation of officers for the Progressive Westside Chapter in Burbank. Tickets are $8 per person and are limited to 500, with reservations encouraged early.
- Fowler Schools Launch Project Reading and Ethnic Studies, by Thomas Toyama, page 1. Fowler Unified School District will begin a headstart program, emphasize Project Reading, and add ethnic studies courses in the coming semester. Vocational subjects will also be expanded at Fowler High School due to high dropout rates.
- Enomoto Reflects on JACL’s Direction, by Jerry Enomoto, page 2. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto reviews the organization’s recent activities, including the Alcatraz supply drive, ethnic concerns, and youth engagement. He notes the need for greater encouragement of chapter ideas and community involvement.
- Little Tokyo Redevelopment Plan Wins Final City Council Approval, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the $47 million Little Tokyo Redevelopment Plan covering an eight-block area. The plan aims to modernize the district while preserving its role as a Japanese commercial and cultural center.
- West Los Angeles Jr. JACL to Be Installed Feb. 20, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The newly formed West Los Angeles Jr. JACL will install Naomi Osugi as president, with a focus on community service. The youth group plans a March of Dimes drive, a fundraising talent show, and other activities.
National
- Chamber of Commerce Supports Repeal of Title II, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The State Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii adopted a brief resolution supporting repeal of Title II of the Internal Security Act. The statement was sent to Sen. Hiram Fong to back his position on emergency detention.
- Seattle City Council Passes Title II Repeal Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Seattle City Council unanimously supported the JACL-initiated resolution calling for repeal of Title II. The council action coincided with Senate passage of S.1872 to repeal the Emergency Detention Act of 1950.
JACL
- JACL Alcatraz Day Set for Feb. 14 with Supply Drive for Indians, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco JACL designated Feb. 14 as Alcatraz Day and launched a drive to collect supplies for American Indians on Alcatraz Island. Previous donations included food, cash, and a $585.50 check presented to the Indians.
Military & Veterans
- Don Kimura Recommended for Distinguished Service Cross, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sp/5 Don Kimura of Fowler was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in Vietnam near the Cambodian border. He had already received the Silver Star and was scheduled for discharge in June.
- Wyoming Press Recalls Heart Mountain Camp, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa describes speaking to Wyoming newspaper editors about the Heart Mountain camp and the press’s role during the evacuation. He recalls the Nisei who worked for and were denied jobs at Wyoming papers.
Commentary
- Enomoto Installation Speech Highlights Community Efforts, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL leaders discuss the importance of ethnic studies, the Noguchi case, and youth involvement. The piece also highlights organizational support for self-help groups like the Yellow Brotherhood.
- Americans of Japanese Descent: Identity and Action, by David Ota, page 3. David Ota argues that Japanese Americans must develop a clear American identity, grounded in the legacy of the 442nd and assertive democratic citizenship. He urges the press to drop the hyphen and use the term Americans of Japanese descent.
- Letter: Black Panthers and the Constitution, by Hiroshi Kanno, page 3. JACL Midwest chairman Hiroshi Kanno urges the organization to speak out against the raids on the Black Panthers. He argues that silence in the face of repression repeats the failures that led to the wartime incarceration.
- Disappointed Reader, by Yumi Nagata, page 3. Student Yumi Nagata criticizes the paper for being irrelevant to younger readers and for its limited letters-to-the-editor section. She suggests the content reflects conservative tendencies.
In-Depth
- Manzanar Revisited, by Ray Okamura, page 3. A group of Japanese Americans returned to the Manzanar camp cemetery to clean it up and hold a memorial service. The article also reflects on the nearby Paiute Indian history of Owens Valley and the ongoing presence of concentration camp conditions.
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