COVID-19 and JACL operations and resources | |
JACL's physical offices remain closed. Staff continue to do the work of the organization remotely. Please direct all phone calls to our Washington, D.C. Office at (202) 223-1240 and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we will all be available via email. All staff emails can be found HERE. You can also check our website, jacl.org, for updates and COVID-19 resources. You can view our resources page here. Stay safe everyone and we hope to see you all in person again soon. - JACL National Staff | |
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Tomorrow: Press Conference - US Government Owes Reparations to Japanese Latin Americans | |
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The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) at the Organization of American States (OAS) published a stunning verdict in the case of Isamu Carlos “Art” Shibayama versus United States, holding that the US government owes redress to brothers Art, Tak and Ken Shibayama who did not receive the redress they deserved for human rights violations perpetrated on them as children during World War II. The Shibayama brothers, along with over 2200 other children, women and men of Japanese ancestry from 13 Latin American countries, were subjected to kidnapping, family separation, indefinite internment, hostage exchange, and forced deportation under a broader program of extraordinary rendition from Latin America carried out by U.S. government officials. This hidden program unfolded simultaneously with the more widely known roundup, expulsion and forced incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, which was explored in the Korematsu versus United States and other cases. RSVP to join the Zoom press conference or watch live on the Facebook event page below | |
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Sister Cities Bell Ringing in Honor of 75 Years since Hiroshima and Nagasaki | |
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The newly formed Japan Committee of the Sister Cities International Program is looking to host a bell-ringing ceremony across the United States to honor 75 years of peace since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Committee is asking for support in asking more cities to participate and asking for support in spreading media awareness. If you'd like to learn more about the project and how to get your city to participate you can visit the Japan Committee's webpage below. | |
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Why We Can't Wait Campaign: US Congress Should Pass Reparations Bill | |
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"The US Congress should address systemic racism by bringing House Resolution (HR) 40 to a full vote once it reaches the floor, more than 100 civil rights, human rights, and civil society organizations and businesses said today. The federal bill would establish a commission to investigate the legacy of slavery and its ongoing harm, and come up with proposals to Congress for reparations. The organizations mobilized under the new campaign “Why We Can’t Wait,” initiated by groups including the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC), Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N'COBRA)." - From Campaign Letter to Congress | |
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Recap: August 1 Tsuru for Solidarity Action in Pennsylvania | |
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On Saturday, August 1, members of Tsuru for Solidarity, JACL National, and the JACL Philadelphia chapter demonstrated with members of the Shut Down Berks Coalition outside the home of Governor Tom Wolf in Mount Wolf, PA. The action was in response to the decision of Judge Gee to rescind her order stating that children being held at the Berks Family Detention Center must be released in accordance with the Flores Settlement. Her decision came after the ruling by Judge Boasberg that ICE did not have to release families held in detention at Berks even with the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view the full video of the action which was live-streamed below. | |
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RSVP: August 15 JACL National Board Meeting | |
Saturday, August 15 - 8am PT/10am CT/11am ET The JACL National Board will be hosting its open board meeting for the JACL membership and community to attend. The board will be voting on the FY2021 Provisional Budget, and it will be a chance for delegates to meet the 2020-2022 National Board Candidates. Click below to register for the meeting. | |
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JACL 2021-2022 National Board Candidate Profiles | |
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With the elections for the 2021-2022 JACL National Board coming up soon, we're happy to present the candidate profile for the current list of candidates running. We'll be updating the list as we continue to receive further applications. The current candidate profiles can be found below. | |
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Ruth Asawa Stamp Set from USPS | |
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The United States Postal Service will be issuing a new stamp set honoring the work of Japanese American artist, Ruth Asawa in a set being released on August 13, 2020. The Berkeley JACL will also be hosting a book talk on a new novel about Ruth Asawa's life on August 16, which you can learn more about down below. | |
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A Virtual Book Talk with Marilyn Chase: Hosted by Berkeley JACL | |
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August 16
2pm-3:30pm PDT | 5pm-6:30pm EDT
Conversation with Marilyn Chase, author of Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa. Zoom Call in Info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83134300959?pwd=cFAycy9kZ0ZYaFo3NHY3bDIzZE9udz09 Meeting ID: 831 3430 0959 Passcode: 606149 One tap mobile +16699009128,,83134300959#,,,,,,0#,,606149# US (San Jose) +13462487799,,83134300959#,,,,,,0#,,606149# US (Houston) | |
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Join Us in Support of H.R. 40 | |
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JACL Executive Director, David Inoue, discusses JACL’s support of H.R. 40. H.R. 40 would create a commission to examine the institution of slavery, its legacy, and make recommendations to Congress for reparations, beginning a process of repairing and restoring after centuries of enslavement. Click the image above to watch the full video statement. | |
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Tadaima Week 8 Programming | |
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JACL Applauds Indiana University's Apology for Ban on Japanese American Students During World War II | |
Last week, on July 22nd, Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie, released a statement on behalf of the university apologizing for the actions the university took during World War II in banning Japanese Americans students. The statement and actions taken within are the culmination of work taken on behalf of Hoosier JACL member and IU alumni, Eric Langowski. On February 19, 2020, in honor of Day of Remembrance, Eric delivered a petition to the University Board of Trustees which asked for a formal apology for the university’s wartime actions. | |
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Statement from Berkeley JACL on Vandalism of Statue of Frank Ogawa in Oakland | |
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| "The Berkeley chapter of the JACL protests the vandalism to the bust of former Oakland City Councilman Frank Ogawa by unknown persons, but stand -- as we believe Frank Ogawa would have done -- in solidarity with the rights of citizens who exercise their rights to protest injustice, with the movement for Black Lives, and against federal unmarked troops forcibly brought into our communities. Frank Ogawa was the first Japanese American to serve on the Oakland City Council and experienced state racism when he was shipped to the Topaz concentration camp in Utah without due process during World War II. Berkeley JACL will always remember and honor Frank Ogawa's great contributions to our community and will continue his work by supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and all efforts to end racism." - Berkeley JACL | |
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JACL Signs on to Amicus Brief with National Woman's Law Center on Title XI Proposed Changes | |
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The JACL joins the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and other civil rights organizations in an amicus brief for the National Women's Law Center's lawsuit against Secretary DeVos and the Department of Education's Title IX regulations that undermine the protections of victims of sexual assault and harassment. We also remember that it was the work of Congresswoman Patsy Mink who championed the creation of Title IX during her term in Congress. | |
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JACL joins SEARAC, Other AAPI Orgs in Denouncing Use of Federal Agents in Portland | |
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Executive Director David Inoue said, "We denounce the mobilization of federal agents in Portland, and now other cities, under the false pretense to address urban violence and crime. Our federal agents should not be used as political props to antagonize cities because the president does not like the mayor's political party. The president is unnecessarily placing the lives of both the officers and civilians at risk through these incursions worthy of the world's worst dictatorships." | |
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JACL NY/SC Digital Storytelling Contest | |
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How does the past influence your present?: NY/SC Digital Storytelling Competition This summer, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) National Youth/Student Council (NY/SC) is excited to introduce our Digital Storytelling competition. We know that storytelling has always been important, particularly for Japanese and Asian Americans. Much of our community history is recorded orally or passed down through personal archives, and in the present moment it is especially important that we take note of our experiences, memories, thoughts, and feelings. This competition is designed to uplift young JACL voices and use our stories, whether they be present or historical, to build connections with one another in times of physical distance. Using one of five mediums--journalistic-style essay, visual art, video presentation, poetry, or creative writing--we ask youth participants to send in their stories, with the theme of How does the past influence your present? We encourage entrants to be creative in their approach to the theme. How has the past--be it your personal, familial, national, or other histories--shaped your current experience? How has it formed your identity or perception of self? How will it continue to shape your future? You may interpret the prompt as freely as you’d like. In reviewing submissions, members of the National Youth/ Student Council will be evaluating based on the following attributes: -
Creativity -
Adherence to the Theme -
Clarity of Story -
Quality of Submission The competition submission form can be found at nysc.jacl.org and will open June 28th, running until August 15th. The competition is open to all youth ages 13-30, no prior experience necessary. The top two entries will receive: -
Recognition in the Pacific Citizen, our JACL newsletter; -
Publication online, both on the National Youth/Student Council site and the JACL National site; -
An expenses-covered opportunity to attend the 2021 JACL National Convention in Las Vegas to present their work. If you have any questions, please contact NY/SC Youth Representative Mieko Kuramoto at mkuramoto@jacl.org . We look forward to seeing your submissions! | |
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Japanese American Veterans Association Inaugural Day of Affirmation Recording | |
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President Harry S. Truman (Center) decorating the colors of the Nisei 442nd RCT. Photo: Abbie Rowe, National Parks Service, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. About the Day of Affirmation On July 15, 2020, at 12 noon (EDT), JAVA will commemorate the return of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team from the battlefields in Europe to Washington, DC. Seventy-four years earlier, on July 15, 1946, President Harry Truman received the military unit at 12 noon at the Ellipse, the south lawn of the White House, following its march down Constitution Avenue. The President presented the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) with its seventh Presidential Unit Citation. The noon ceremony will include a wreath-laying at the Price of Freedom Wall, National World War II Memorial, which is on Constitution Avenue, near the Ellipse. Turner Kobayashi, son of Key Kobayashi, who served in the Military Intelligence Service, and Catherine Luette, daughter of Major Orville Shirey, who served with the 442nd RCT, will serve as the wreath bearers. | |
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We've updated our Hate Crimes Page to include more information and reporting options for members of the community as hate crimes increase as a result of COVID-19. You can visit the updated page here. | |
