The Second Annual Gala Dinner Event

The second annual Gala Dinner Event of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2008, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. 

The focus of this year’s Gala will be on the Redress movement, which called for an apology and reparations to Japanese Americans who were interned in concentration camps in remote areas of the United States during World War II.  This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which provided for Redress.

Breaking News From JACL

JACL Chides Spanish Basketball Team for Offensive Advertisement

Washington, DC – In a August 13 letter to Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee President, JACL National Director Floyd Mori chided the Spanish men’s basketball team for its racially offensive pose in an advertisement in a leading Spanish newspaper.

JACL Frustrated at Congressman's Offensive Blog Title

CHICAGO, IL – The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) responded to a recent web site posting by Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) where the congressman titled an article, “Protecting our Families From Asian Invaders”  The blog title was used to explain Knollenberg’s reaction to a consumer protection bill.

JACL Deeply Disturbed By Violence Against Sikh American Community

Washington, DC – The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is deeply disturbed by the sudden spate of hate crimes committed against the Sikh American community, and asks for more strict enforcement of punishment against those who commit such acts of violence and hate against others.

JACL Supports Passage of Curriculum Bill in California

San Francisco, CA – The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) strongly supports California Assembly bill AB 2064, which requires the California State Board of Education to include instruction on the Vietnam War, including instruction on the “Secret War” in Laos, the role of Southeast Asians in that war, and the refugee/immigrant/new American experience as a result of that war.

JACL Announces Launch of the 2008 Project: Community! Program

Los Angeles, CA - JACL's "Project: Community!" will began on Tuesday, June 24th and will run through August 12th, 2008. Fourteen participants have been selected and will meet weekly at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) in Los Angeles. These participants represent the Greater Los Angeles Area from as far as Upland, West Covina, Torrance, Valencia and Los Alamitos. For more information click here. In addition blogs by participants can be viewed here!

JACL Programs and Resourses

The JACL Anti-Hate Program responds to incidents of defamation and hate crimes and promotes the values and practice of tolerance and diversity in our schools, businesses and communities.

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JACL Announces the 2008 Youth Convention which will be located in Salt Lake City. All youth from across the country are invited for this fun and exciting event! Registration is available online.

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The JACL seeks to educate and train members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community so they may become effective leaders and contribute to the well-being of their respective communities and the public at-large. 

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The NY/SC is comprised of representatives from JACL's seven districts across the country.   The NY/SC organizes programs to actively engage students in campus, community and civil rights issues.

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The JACL provides educational materials to promote a better understanding about the history and contributions made by Japanese Americans, which reflect on the American value of creating an acceptance of diversity in our society.  >>Click Here To Read More

Anti-Defamation League Curriculum on Japanese American Internment

 In commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, the Anti-Defamation League has developed a classroom curriculum about the Japanese American Internment.  The curriculum and materials are intended to reduce prejudice by examining stereotyping and racial and ethnic discrimination.

Curriculum Connections: Voices of Japanese American Internees

The high school lesson uses video and written oral histories of Japanese American internees about the discrimination they faced before, during and following their internment, and their feelings about the Civil Liberties Act.

Understanding the Civil Liberties Act of 1988

This document provides a brief overview of the political and judicial discrimination that the Japanese American community faced during World War II, including descriptions of Hirabayashi v. U.S. and Korematsu v. U.S., and how, over 40 years later, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, sought to right the wrongs that the Japanese American community faced.