News and Events
JACL APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF HATE CRIMES BILL
April 29, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, thanks the U.S. House of Representatives for their vote of passage of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Hate Crimes Prevention Act which was passed with a bipartisan vote of 249-175. The Act enables the Department of Justice to assist the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes based on race, ethnic background, and religion, and expands the definition of hate crimes to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons.
JACL SUPPORTS INOUYE BILL FOR A FEDERAL STUDY
April 28, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) announces its support of the bill introduced by Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) to have the Secretary of the Interior conduct a study to determine if internment camp sites in Hawaii are eligible to be listed as historic sites under the National Park System.
Federal Hate Crimes Legislation Needs Your Support
April 27, 2009
On April 2, 2009, H.R. 1913: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (LLEHCPA), sponsored by Democratic Representative John Conyers of Michigan, was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill has been voted out of committee and is expected for a vote before the House as early as Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
Click here to read more of this action alert.
JACL urges thorough investigation in attack of Asian students at
Franklin & Marshall College
April 24, 2009
The Japanese American Citizens League today urged law enforcement authorities in Lancaster, PA to conduct a thorough investigation that will lead to the arrest of the individuals responsible for a racial attack on three Asian students at Franklin & Marshall College.
Click here to read the letter.
Click here to read the original newspaper article.
JACL Announces Collegiate Leadership Program
April 15, 2009
The JACL is now accepting applications for its new JACL Collegiate Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference to be held on June 19-22, 2009. The program, which is patterned after the JACL/OCA Washington, DC Leadership Conference, is limited to Asian American college students who are in their freshman, sophomore or junior year in school.
APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 15, 2009
Click here for more information.
Click here for an application.
APA Leaders Meeting with White House Staff
April 14, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) was included among the groups within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community whose leaders met in the West Wing of the White House on April 14, 2009, to discuss with White House Staff the future of the White House Initiative on AAPI’s.
JACL Asks Support For Veterans Commemorative Stamp
April 8, 2009
Washington, D.C. - The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, is asking its members and friends to write letters of support for the Japanese American (Nisei) WWII Veterans Commemorative Stamp proposed to the United States Postal Service.
Click here to read more.
National Park Service Announces Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program
April 6, 2009
The National Park Service is pleased to announce that Japanese American Confinement Sites grant applications are now available for the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II.
2010 Census Needs JACL Participation
April 6, 2009
As members of the largest and oldest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States, many other organizations as well as federal agencies look to the JACL for avenues of outreach to our communities. There are many ways to get involved at the chapter level, local level and state level to ensure that we have as accurate of a count as possible.
The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Laments Binghamton Tragedy
April 4, 2009
Washington, D.C.-The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life on Friday that took place at a center in Binghamton, N.Y. dedicated to helping to improve the lives of newcomers to America. Our condolences go out to the victims, their families and the community.
JACL Calls For Project: Community San Francisco Participants
April 1, 2009
San Francisco, CA - Project: Community is coming to San Francisco. First held in Los Angeles based on Little Tokyo, Project: Community San Francisco is a high school summer program aimed at educating and empowering the youth voice in San Francisco’s Japantown. Program participants will gain insight and understanding into how and why a community is formed, how it functions, and how it evolves to meet the needs of its ever‐changing landscape. The program will take place from June 30th to August 4th.
Click here for more information.
Click here for an application.
JACL Supports “Redress Now” For Japanese Latin Americans
April 2, 2009
Washington, D.C. - The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization in the nation, reiterates its support of Redress Now for Japanese Latin Americans who suffered from Wartime Relocation and Internment during World War II. Floyd Mori, National Executive Director of the JACL, said: "Our organization is working with those involved and supporting this effort to bring justice to Japanese Latin Americans."
JACL Critical of Iowa School District Action Against Lori Phanachone
April 1, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- Lori Phanachone, an honors student at Storm Lake High School in Iowa was suspended for three days earlier this year and threatened with other disciplinary sanctions because she refused to take an English proficiency test despite ranking seventh in her senior class with a 3.98 GPA. The English Language Development Assessment test is administered annually to students already labeled as English Language Learners (ELL).
JACL Applauds Passage Of Service Act
March 31, 2009
Washington, D.C. - The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, applauds the passage of The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act which is now on its way to President Obama for his signature. The purpose of this bill is to improve national service programs and increase levels of volunteerism which could help to alleviate some of the economic challenges facing the nation. The bi-partisan votes in Congress demonstrate a strong commitment and vision to engage Americans in voluntary service to community and country.
JACL Thanks Congress For Passage of Omnibus Bill
March 26, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- The JACL thanks the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives for the passage of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (H.R.146), which will help conserve some of the most important historic and natural resources in the country.
JACL NY/SC Expresses Concern Over Racist Graffiti at Twin Cities School
March 23, 2009
The National Youth/Student Council of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL NY/SC), the youth body of the oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil and human rights organization, expresses its concern over the racist and anti-gay graffiti that was found spray-painted on the Great River School in St. Paul, Minnesota.
JACL Support Honorary Degrees In California
March 20, 2009
San Francisco, CA.- California State Assembly member Warren T. Furutani has introduced a bill which would complete the unfinished business of conferring honorary degrees to Japanese Americans whose college education was disrupted due to their incarceration in concentration camps during World War II. Assembly Bill 37 was heard in the Assembly Higher Education Committee at the California State Capitol this week and passed unanimously out of committee.
JACL Calls For Release For Japanese American Journalist From Iranian Prison
March 19, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, joined calls demanding that journalist Roxana Saberi be released from a prison in Tehran, Iran, where political prisoners are routinely detained.
JACL Launches Program Bridging Japanese and Muslim American Youth
March 14, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA
March 14, 2009 marked the second session of the Bridging Communities Program sponsored by JACL, Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR) and the Council and American-Islamic Relations.The 2009 program has gathered 25 high school students who have thus far, explored their identity, culture and religions. The students will also dialogue about empowerment and visit the Manzanar Pilgrimage in April.
Interested in learning more?
Visit www.jaclpsw.org
Email psw@jacl.org or call 213-626-4471.
JACL Responds to Dartmouth College Incident
March 12, 2009 -Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) sent a letter to President Jim Wright, current president of Dartmouth College, expressing dismay at the disparaging email about Dr. Jim Yong Kim, who is to become the 17th President for Dartmouth College on July 1, 2009. The email, which was sent to a large number of Dartmouth students, portrayed Dr. Kim in racist terms and was dismissed by the Dartmouth administration as “an offensive attempt at humor.”
JACL and OCA Hold Successful Leadership Conference
March 11, 2009- Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, and OCA National (OCA) formerly the Organization of Chinese Americans, just completed the eleventh annual joint JACL/OCA DC Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The JACL held its first DC Leadership Conference in 1983. State Farm is the sponsor for the event, and their representative, Leslie Moe-Kaiser, was on hand to participate in the four-day conference at which she presented a workshop on leadership.
JACL Pacific Southwest District Unveils New Website
The Pacific Southwest District of the Japanese American Citizens League is pleased to announce the launch of the new interactive website for the district. The site will feature all of the same information of the previous site with new sections on PSW's Public Policy and 2009 PSW Programs as well as blogs for PSW's college programs Mobilize for Policy and high school program Bridging Communities
Visitors, members and volunteers are encouraged to submit feedback to psw@jacl.org to discuss how the website can be made even better.
President Obama Launches White House Internship Program
March 4, 2009
President Obama launched the White House Internship Program for his administration and announced that applications are currently being accepted for the summer of 2009. Those selected to participate in the program will gain valuable job experience and an inside look at the life of White House staff while building leadership skills.
JACL And OCA Host Reception For Tina Tchen
March 2, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and OCA National (OCA) jointly hosted a reception to welcome Tina Tchen, Director of Public Liaison for the White House, to the nation’s capital. The reception, which was well attended by many representatives of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community, was held at the OCA National Center on March 2, 2009.
JACL Endorses Nomination of Gary Locke
February 25, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), which is the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, is pleased to lend its support to the nomination by President Barack Obama of Gary Locke to become the United States Secretary of Commerce. The JACL urges the Senate to quickly confirm Gary Locke for this position on the President’s Cabinet.
JACL, NCRR and JANM Host a Successful 2009 Day of Remembrance Program!
February 21, 2009 marked another successful Day of Remembrance program filled with history, commemoration, youth, energy, activism, and everything else. This year's theme was "Forging Alliances: Connecting Nikkei to Current Immigration."
The program featured a commemoration of the Issei/Nisei internment experience by Professor Roger Daniels, the Charles Phelps Taft Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Cincinnati, as well as a spoken word piece by community activists and students linking current immigration & undocumented student struggles to the JA immigrant experience. In addition, the program featured our very own Kene Kubo as the program emcee as well as a second annual heart-stopping drum performance by Progressive Taiko. (continue)
Click here to read the Rafu Shimpo article
Nisei VFW Reunion Held in La Mirada
February 19, 2009 - San Francisco, CA
The 59th Annual Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars Reunion was held on February 13, 14, and 15, 2009, at the Holiday Inn in La Mirada, California. General Chairman for the reunion was Robert M. Wada of the Kazuo Masuda Memorial VFW Post 3670. Others posts which jointly hosted the reunion were: Gardena Nisei Memorial VFW Post 1961, San Fernando Valley VFW Post 4140, East Los Angeles Nisei Memorial VFW Post 9902, and Los Angeles Memorial VFW Post 9938.
Click here to read more.
JACL Announces 2009 Project Community Program
February 14, 2009 - Los Angeles, San Francisco CA
The Japanese American Citizens League is proud to announce the Statewide 2009 Project: Community! program intended to empower the High School youth voice in the Japanese American community. The program also seeks to give participants a sense of identity and understanding of their place in the community.
Click here for Southern California Application
JACL NY/SC Sends Letter to Miley Cyrus
February 10, 2009
The national Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) through its National Youth/Student Council (NY/SC) sent a letter to Miley Cyrus in response to a photograph that showed Cyrus and a group of her friends slanting and narrowing their eyes in an effort to mock Asian Pacific Americans. This letter is sent after the NY/SC issued a statement following the surfacing of the photograph, acknowledging that a recent posting on her website explaining her behavior wasn’t enough to undo the damage of her actions
Click here to read the letter.
Click here to read the statement sent on February 5, 2009.
JACL Support Tammy Duckworth's Nomination at VA
February 5, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, fully supports Tammy Duckworth’s nomination by President Obama to serve as the assistant secretary of public and intergovernmental affairs at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
JACL Applauds Signing of CHIP Bill
February 4, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, joins with many others in applauding President Obama for signing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP which was formerly SCHIP) Bill and expresses appreciation to all those in Congress who worked hard for its passage.
JACL Announces Date of Gala Dinner
February 4, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, announces the date of the National JACL Gala Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. for Thursday, September 17, 2009. The date has been listed on the JACL website for some time. The event is held as a Salute to Champions who have contributed to the Japanese American community and the JACL.
Mountain View Mayor Abe-Koga Harassed
January 23, 2009 -Mountain View, CA
Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga joined a growing group of city leaders and community groups to address the recent string of hate incidences after receiving a hateful e-mail days before being sworn into office and being racially taunted by a group of young boys when walking her daughter from school. This group of city leaders and community groups hope to hold an event called “Not In Our Town” as a community response to the recent string of intolerance. JACL Northern California – Western Nevada – Pacific District Regional Director Patty Wada and San Mateo JACL Chapter has contacted this growing group to further support the effort.
Stuart Ishimaru Named Acting Chair of EEOC
January 23, 2009 -Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, congratulates Stuart J. Ishimaru on being named as the Acting Chair of the Equal Employment OpportunityCommission (EEOC) by the Administration. Mr. Ishimaru has been a Commissioner of the U.S. EEOC since 2003 and was re-nominated by President George W. Bush for a second term and confirmed by the U.S Senate in 2007.
JAVA Lunch Honors Bronze Star Medal Awardees
January 22, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
The Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) held its quarterly luncheon meeting on January 17, 2009, at the Harvest Moon Restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia. Emcee was Mike Yaguchi. Officers were installed with Robert Nakamoto retained as JAVA President for another term.
Inaugural of a Lifetime
January 22, 2009 - Washington, D.C.
While the events were exciting and memorable to witness, the genuine spirit of togetherness and enthusiasm were the highlights of the week for me. People came from all over the nation just to be here. Most had no fancy invitations nor did they even expect to get into any of the events of celebration. They just wanted to be here at an historic time. They roamed the streets, rode the METRO, and hung out at the bars and restaurants.
JACL Accepts Masaoka Fellowship Applications
Washington, D.C.—Leslie Tamura, a member of the Fresno Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), has completed her service as the latest JACL Masaoka Fellow in the Washington, D.C. office of Congresswoman Doris Matsui, where she focused largely on health issues. Leslie considers the Fellowship experience a valuable part of her life from which she learned a great deal. She is now home in Fresno as she prepares to enter graduate school. The JACL is now accepting applications for the Masaoka Fellowship for 2009.
Click here for information about the Fellowship
The Shinseki Praise Fest
Washington, DC - January 14, 2009
Today was historic in every sense of the word for the Asian American community and for the Nation. A man who displays the spirit of his Samurai ancestry, showed courage, dedication, and loyalty to a nation that only 65 years ago had scorned, excluded, and imprisoned those of his ethnic ancestry. General Eric Shinseki stood tall, confident, and proud to be who he is in representing the heritage of his parents and of his nation. The values of honesty and hard work were a theme of the praise he received in an arena that often scolds and belittles.
JACL Takes Issue With The Stephanie Miller Show
Washington, DC - January 14, 2009
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States, takes issue with what appears to be a pattern of perpetuating racial stereotypes of Asian Americans on the show. During segments of the Stephanie Miller Radio Show aired on December 18, 2008, and January 6, 2009, the hosts engaged in racist antics at the expense of the Asian American community.
JA's Confer with Japan Consuls General
Washington, DC -January 13, 2009
The notion that Japanese Americans (JA’s) can play a role in U.S./Japan relations has been a topic of discussion over the past several years with a number of prominent JA’s. This past weekend while Japan Consuls General to the United States gathered together, some 35 JA’s met to develop an “action plan” to establish a more formal role in organized efforts to maintain the amiable relationship between the two nations.
Mori Attends Obama Stimulus Speech
Washington, DC -- January 9, 2009
JACL national director Floyd Mori was among a number of dignitaries invited by the transition team to attend President-Elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus speech on January 8 at George Mason University. Obama unveiled details of his economic plan to the gathering of a few hundred people, including the media.
Click here for Floyd's account.
Click here for pictures from the speech.
JACL Announces Fellowship Opportunity
Washington, D.C. - January 5, 2009
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) seeks applicants for its Daniel K. Inouye Fellowship, which will be based in the JACL Washington, D.C. office. This fellowship will be focused on public policy advocacy as well as healthcare programs and issues of importance to the Asian Pacific American (APA) community at large. The fellowship is named for the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, current United States senator from Hawaii, and is funded by Eli Lilly.
JACL Announces Pacific Southwest District 2009 Programming Slate
Los Angeles, CA - JACL PSW announces its slate of youth leadership programs in 2009. Those programs include the following:
Bridging Communities Program (co-sponsored with Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress) – connecting high school youth of the JA community with the Muslim community
- Mobilize for Policy 2009– educating and training collegiate youth to effect change in policy affecting the API community
- Project Community 2009 – creating high school community advocates to be active in the Little Tokyo community
Click here for more information
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