Cambodia, campus unrest and where JACL stood in 1970

Vol. 70, No. 19, May 15, 1970. 6 pages. View this issue

The escalation into Cambodia ran through the May 15, 1970 issue. JACL National President Jerry Enomoto wrote about talking with students at Sacramento State and about delegates who blocked a protest resolution on procedural grounds. The news pages reported that the NCWNDC voted 14-4 against a wire to President Nixon, and that Senator Daniel Inouye, Rep. Spark Matsunaga and Rep. Patsy Mink spoke against the move. A Bay Area teach-in on campus unrest was scheduled, and the front page carried excerpts from the Planning Commission discussion of what youth can do in community service.

Elsewhere in these six pages, Bill Hosokawa described a Denver conference where Sansei and Nisei met across a generation gap. Inyo County looked at making Manzanar a historical landmark. JACL renewed its campaign against TV films it considers derogatory to Japanese Americans. Glenn Omatsu, Shoshana Arai and Kats Kunitsugu each wrote on JACL and the Chicago convention, legal defense and the Los Angeles teachers’ strike.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Name of the Game Today, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. JACL National President Jerry Enomoto reflects on discussions with students at Sacramento State about Asian American perspectives and dissent. He argues that violence is never justified and that JACL should remain alert to societal needs while improving American democracy.
• Cambodia Issue, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. Enomoto criticizes NCWNDC delegates for blocking a resolution protesting the Cambodia escalation on procedural grounds. He argues delegates should be trusted to act on hot issues without requiring prior chapter approval.
• Bridging the Gap, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa describes a Denver conference on minority relations that exposed a generation gap between Sansei students and Nisei establishment figures. He concludes that agreement on the need for action exists but consensus on goals will require much more wisdom and compromise.
• Legal Defense and Education Committees, by Shoshana Arai, page 4. The author describes an Asian legal defense committee meeting at Boalt Hall that coached young people facing trial. She argues JACL should fund such committees to serve street people and youth outside the middle class.
• Nisei Votes Frozen Out for Chicago, by Glenn Omatsu, page 6. Glenn Omatsu urges JACL to cancel social functions at the Chicago convention and redirect funds to Asian American community projects. He also proposes a $10,000 donation to the Panther Legal Defense Fund.
• School Crisis, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The editorial examines the wave of public school teacher strikes and their demands for policy voice and professional pay. It notes that strikes are a logical extension of the labor movement into the public sector.
• L.A. Teachers’ Strike Hurts Our Children the Most, by Kats Kunitsugu, page 6. Kunitsugu reluctantly opposes the Los Angeles teachers’ strike, arguing that the battle is really about power rather than education. He calls on parents to press school boards and legislators for reform instead.
• Elk’s Policy, by Jeanne and Toru Miyoshi, page 6. Two Sansei Santa Maria musicians refused to march in an Elks parade because the lodge kept a white-only clause. The letter writers praise the youths and urge JACL chapters to reconsider Elks affiliations.
• Whither America?, by Tom Isomura, page 6. Isomura warns that expanded military authority could undermine civil liberties and recall the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans. He cites the sacrifice of Nisei soldiers at Anzio.

Community

• JACL Planning Commission Transcripts: What Can Youth Do in Community Service Areas, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Excerpts from the JACL Planning Commission discussion on youth programs address internal Jr. JACL problems, age limits, and youth advisers. Recommendations include establishing a young adult program for members 18 to 20 and expanding youth staff.
• Technicality Foils NC-WNDC Move to Protest Cambodia Move, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The NCWNDC voted 14-4 to reject a resolution calling for a wire to President Nixon protesting the Cambodia escalation, on grounds that chapters had not studied it. Supporters noted Nixon had announced the move only days earlier.
• Teach-in on Cambodia Slated in S.F. May 15, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Bay Area Japanese community teach-in on campus unrest following the Cambodia escalation was scheduled at the San Francisco Buddhist Church. It was sponsored by JACL and Asian Studies departments at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State.
• Bazaar Fund of $10,000 Missing from Church Safe, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Around $10,000 in bazaar proceeds disappeared from the West Los Angeles Buddhist Church safe, and police detectives were investigating. Church officials suggested the bags may have been misplaced during transit or misidentified at deposit.
• Air Academy Attracts Minorities, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lt. Col. John W. Blanton has increased minority cadet enrollment at the Air Force Academy by visiting depressed-area high schools. The Academy has had 29 Oriental American cadets over the past four years.
• Asian American Class Lacks Student Interest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new Asian American course at Washington High School in San Francisco may be cancelled because only four students had registered by May 3. The course was assigned to student teacher Lloyd Nekoba to fulfill practice teaching requirements.
• West L.A. Hosts PSW Rally for Nat’l Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council will hold a pre-convention rally May 16-17 at the Airport Marina Hotel in Los Angeles. National JACL Legal Counsel Bill Marutani will keynote the banquet on the relevancy of JACL in the 1970s.
• PSWDC to Institute Legal Aid Program, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The PSWDC executive board agreed to establish a financial aid program for responsible dissent amid campus unrest. The district office served as a rumor control and information center for concerned Japanese American students during the Kent State unrest.
• Stockton Girl Wins NC Oratory, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Julia Yamaoka of Stockton won the NCWNDC oratorical contest narrowly over Ran Uyeda of San Jose. San Jose State football coach Harry McMillan spoke at the dinner about young people.
• New JACL Caucus Meets in L.A.; Plan Rally in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The New JACL Caucus held its first meeting in Los Angeles to push JACL toward more relevant positions on international affairs and civil rights. Plans include a proposal for the Chicago convention and an Asian Solidarity Rally.

Incarceration & Redress

• Manzanar May Be Inyo Historical Landmark, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Inyo County appointed Frank Parcher to chair its historical landmarks committee, and he is pursuing Manzanar War Relocation Center as the first landmark. Japanese Americans had cleaned the cemetery at the site during the previous Christmas holidays.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei of Biennium List Told, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Twelve candidates were nominated for the 1969-70 Nisei of the Biennium award, with three to be honored at the July convention. Rep. Spark Matsunaga’s nomination was withdrawn at his own request.

National

• Nonimmigrant Status Liberalized, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new law signed April 7 by President Nixon adds fiance and intracompany transferee categories to nonimmigrant status and modifies exchange alien residence requirements. The changes were explained by the American Council for Nationalities Service.
• Nation’s TV Stations Alerted to Anti-Nisei Films, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL renewed its campaign urging TV stations not to broadcast films it considers derogatory to Japanese Americans, including Betrayal from the East and Behind the Rising Sun. National Director Masao Satow said none of these films have any foundation in fact.
• Congressmen Deplore Nixon’s Cambodia Action, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Senator Daniel Inouye and Rep. Spark Matsunaga spoke against the Nixon Administration’s decision to send troops into Cambodia. Rep. Patsy Mink urged constituents to contact the President and argued Congress had shirked its war powers responsibility.
• Abusive Epithet Cause for Damage Suit in Court, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The California Supreme Court ruled that a Black truck driver called racial epithets by his foreman may pursue a damage suit. The court said the slur has become particularly abusive in light of the civil rights movement.
• Statewide Nisei Committee for Calif. Prop. 1 Formed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A statewide Nisei committee led by Dr. Terry T. Hayashi was formed to support California Proposition 1, a $246 million bond for UC health science facilities. The San Francisco JACL board endorsed the proposition.

In-Depth

• Soka Gakkai: Dynamic Movement, by Allan Beekman, page 6. A book review of Soka Gakkai: Japan’s New Buddhism examines the Japanese lay Buddhist movement. The review discusses its founder Makiguchi and its political and religious significance.

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