JACL Weekly Digest

May 6, 2025

Check out our new Pilgrimage Events Section at the bottom of the Weekly Digest!

JACL National News

2025 JACL National Convention

1 Day Left! JACL Members' Only Registration!

Join us this Summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from July 17th through 20th for an exciting convention as we celebrate local and national communities coming together with "Voices in Unity!" 

Announcing our 2025 Workshop Tracks! Stay tuned for more information!

Join us for our Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi) Membership Campaign!

Take Action Against the Alien Enemies Act!

President Trump has now invoked the Alien Enemies Act to target Venezuelan immigrants and already used it to arrest and deport hundreds of people without any due process, only specious accusations based on tattoos and social media posts, but not necessarily actual evidence of criminal activity.

The Supreme Court infamously affirmed the right of the government to take actions to preserve the security of our nation in the cases of Hirabayashi, Korematsu, and Yasui, while also affirming the right to due process in the case of ex parte Endo. The Alien Enemies Act deprives people of that constitutional right to due process affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Together, we can ensure that "Never Again" is more than a promise. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose the President's use of the Alien Enemies Act and co-sponsor the Neighbors Not Enemies Act to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.  

JACL Chapters News

If any JACL Chapters would like to submit stories or events to the Weekly Digest, please send inquiries to Education Programs Manager, Matthew Weisbly at mweisbly@jacl.org

Event Recap - A Community Coming Together to Raise Our Voice!
"When we come together, we win!"

Saturday, May 3rd, concerned members of the Seattle Japanese American Community gathered together at the Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church. The gathering was organized by Tsuru for Solidarity, Seattle JACL, Densho, UW Nikkei Student Union, and the Minidoka Pilgrimage.

The purpose as stated by former Chapter President and Tsuru for Solidarity activist, Stan Shikuma: "Given the recent rash of actions by the Trump administration that echo many of the same injustices inflicted on the JA community in 1942, we feel it is imperative that the JA community stand up and speak out ASAP. Please come learn how our government is repeating history, share your views, make new friends, greet old friends, get involved, and help make our community's voice heard."

The program included a focused review of history, past civil rights and Constitutional injustices, current challenges and outrages from the Administration, and defining three areas for JA community responses, i.e., mass detentions, deportations, and citizenship.

The empowering portion of the afternoon was having the more than 150 attendees break into smaller groups where each individual shared who they were, their background, and why they came. After this sharing, each person gave their thoughts on what resistance meant to them and how they could best resist.

It was a cathartic moment. There was power in realizing others felt the outrage that they felt, and each attendee was not alone in this outrage. Attendance (or "showing up") was resistance. Individuals pledged a variety of methods for future resistance, but there was consensus that "Never Again is Now" and the time for action is now."

*Photos courtesty of Bill Tashima, Seattle JACL

Seattle JACL Scholarship Luncheon Recap

Saturday, May 3rd, Seattle JACL held its annual Scholarship and Past Presidents Luncheon. The luncheon honors our past and future. We recognize our past Presidents and also those for whom our scholarships were endowed, We celebrate our current awardees who will lead us into the future. Remembrance and Hope!

Our luncheon is held at the NVC Clubhouse and includes a short tour of this legacy-filled facility. Thank you, Chris Sketchley, for once again offering your services as tour guide. Kioko Soneda served as emcee. Kyle Kinoshita gave the Chapter greetings and acknowledgement of the Past President who was present. Kyle also acknowledged last year's generous bequest by the Iseri family, which will sustain our scholarship program for the coming years.

This year, Seattle JACL presented seven scholarships totaling $28,000. Our awardees were:

Aki Kurose Scholarship - Max Kinno

Aki Kurose Scholarship - Alana May Phongmanivan

Bunshiro Tazuma Scholarship - Davin Huynh

Minoru Tamesa Scholarship - Zephyr Tanigawa

Cherry and Mas Kinoshita Scholarship - Alex Toshihiro French

Dr. Susumu Shimokon Scholarship - Kai Vu

Elaine Reiko Akagi Scholarship - Diane Hughes

Special thanks to this year's scholarship committee: Mika Kurose Rothman (Chair), Patsy Burgess, BiHoa Caldwell, Karen Cunningham, Katie Cunningham, Rae Hanashiro, Kyle Kinoshita, Paul Kurose, Kara Mealy, Jo Shapiro, Kioko Soneda, and Bill Tashima.

Kansha Project Fundraiser at Nisei Lounge

Salt Lake City JACL Find Your Mon Event

JACL NCWNP District Youth Summit

The JACL NCWNP District Youth Board Summit is an opportunity for Japanese American youth (high school and older) to connect and learn more about the JACL and its advocacy efforts. This event will include games, a discussion session, a tour of SF Japantown, and free lunch :)

RSVP here and feel free to contact us at ncwnpyouthboard@jacl.org

JACL Chicago Scholarship Luncheon

Enduring Democracy: The Monterey Petition on Select PBS Channels in May!

JACL Monterey's documentary film, Enduring Democracy: The Monterey Petition, has recently been released to every PBS station in the United States and stations are signing up to show it. Here’s where you’ll find it in May:

May 1, KCRB Northern Cal Media. 10pm

May 7, UEN Salt Lake City Ut, 9pm

May 17, PBS Hawaii, 9pm

May 19, KPJK San Mateo, 8pm

May 23, PBS 12, Denver CO., 10pm

May 29, PBS Rhode Island, 3:30pm

San Diego Premiere of League of Dreams

JACL Arizona Essay Challenge with the Chandler Museum - Deadline Extended!

 The Chandler Museum has partnered with Japanese American Citizens League - Arizona Chapter (JACL-AZ) to invite students to participate in the 2025 Essay Challenge! This contest encourages young writers to explore the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and the importance of protecting civil liberties for all.

Eligibility:
Open to students residing in Arizona who meet ONE of the following criteria:
 Are a member (or have relatives who are a member) of JACL-AZ Chapter, Arizona Buddhist Temple, or Phoenix Life Church.
 Have visited the 2025 Chandler Museum Exhibit, Gaman: Enduring Japanese American Internment at Gila River.

Essay Topics:
Students should submit a well-organized, thought-provoking essay addressing:
 The history and reasons behind Japanese American incarceration during WWII.
 The lessons this history teaches us about justice and equality today.
 Ways to prevent future injustices through laws, education, and civic engagement.
 The significance of this history for all Americans, regardless of background.

Submission Guidelines:
 Grades 4-8: 500-800 words
 Grades 9-12: 1,000-1,500 words
 Typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font
 Must include a bibliography

Deadline: All entries must be submitted by May 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

Details and Submission Link: http://bit.ly/JACLAZ_Essay_Challenge_2025 Or scan the QR code

From Our Partners

Children's Day Festival at Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation

The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation will host Children’s Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at its interpretive center at 1539 Road 19 in Powell, Wyo.

A longstanding tradition in Japan, Children’s Day is free and open to the public.

Haruka Takuka, Heart Mountain’s Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator, will lead the various events at the site. 

Scheduled events include: 

•  Craft tables inside the Mineta-Simpson Institute from 10 a.m. to noon. Activities include a Samurai helmet, koi nobori (carp-shaped windsocks) and kite. 
• A koto and shakuhachi flute concert featuring Nanako Takakura, Noa Fukumoto and Michael Chikuzen Gould in the Mineta-Simpson Institute from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Two koto experience demonstrations in the Mineta-Simpson Institute from 2:15 p.m. until 4 p.m. Participants can try their hands at playing the koto.
•  Showings of the Hashimoto-san cartoons in the Sam Mihara Theater all day.
•  Higo Chonkake Koma spinning top demonstration outside between noon and 1 p.m.

And many more. Please see heartmountain.org for more details.

Sponsors include the Japan Foundation of New York and the Japan Outreach Initiative. 

The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation preserves the site where some 14,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated in Wyoming from 1942 through 1945. Their stories are told within the foundation’s museum, Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, located between Cody and Powell. For more information, call the center at (307) 754-8000 or email info@heartmountain.org.

Rooted in Resilience - AAPI Advocacy Through the Generations

A Conference on Changing Perspectives on Japanese American Incarceration

Films of Remembrance On Demand!

Illuminating Japanese American Incarceration through powerful storytelling - Nichi Bei Foundation Presents Films of Remembrance On Demand.

A groundbreaking digital platform that brings untold stories of the Japanese American incarceration experience directly to your screen. Our carefully curated collection of award-winning documentaries and films ensures these crucial narratives continue to educate, move, and inspire audiences worldwide.

Discover films that transform memory into action. The Nichi Bei Foundation’s collection on Japanese American incarceration demonstrates that remembrance is resistance — challenging historical amnesia and erasure.

2025 Pilgrimage Events

50th Amache Pilgrimage - May 16th to 18th!

This year, the Full Amache Pilgrimage will take place in the Amache area from the evening of Friday May 16 to midday Sunday May 18, with additional events hosted by Amache Alliance, the University of Denver Amache Project, National Parks Conservation Association, Colorado Preservation Inc., and the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation. There will also be events earlier in the week in Denver at the Denver Art Museum and History Colorado Center. PLEASE NOTE: you will need your own transportation to attend these events.

Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage Registration Available Now!

The Jerome Rohwer Committee and the Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage Planning Committee are thrilled to invite you to register for our upcoming 2025 Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage in Little Rock, AR, May 21-24, 2025.

The Pilgrimage offers camp survivors, descendants, and others the opportunities to connect with fellow Pilgrims from around the globe.  Last year we had Pilgrims from as far east as Europe, and as far west as Hawaii.  You will learn about and discuss the legacy and aftermath of WWII era concentration camps in the USA.  One day of the Pilgrimage is a journey to each concentration camp site in Jerome and Rohwer, where the sacred Ireichō (a book with names of over 125,000 innocent Japanese and Japanese Americans imprisoned during WWII) will be honored and short services will be held.  We will have lunch in McGehee, AR, home to the WWII Japanese Internment Museum, followed by a program that includes taiko drummers and a short Obon festival to honor the spirits of our ancestors.  There will be two full days of programming in Little Rock, with historical sessions, survivor perspectives, generational and intergenerational discussions, social activities, and opportunities to research family histories and to stamp the sacred Ireichō.  Learning and open conversation leads to understanding and healing.  

2025 Heart Mountain Pilgrimage - July 24th to 26th

Eighty years ago, the unjust incarceration of over 14,000 Japanese Americans at Heart Mountain finally came to an end. Yet, the lessons of this dark chapter in history are more relevant than ever. Join us at the 2025 Heart Mountain Pilgrimage as we honor the stories of incarceration, uplift the voices of incarcerees and their descendants, and fortify our community’s strength.

This year’s Pilgrimage will be a powerful gathering, designed to inspire hope and resilience for future generations. Featured events include the premiere of Hello Maggie!, the stamping of the Ireichō, the debut of a compelling short film exploring cultural connections to Heart Mountain, multigenerational discussion groups, a transformative art healing workshop, and the ever-popular Sayonara Banquet.

Come be part of this unforgettable experience—because remembering the past is the key to shaping a just future.

Crystal City Rising: Neighbors not Enemies - October 9-12th

The Crystal City Pilgrimage Committee has opened registration for the 2025 pilgrimage taking place October 9-12 in Texas. This year’s Pilgrimage theme is “Crystal City Rising - Neighbors Not Enemies.” In addition to learning about the unique history and stories of survivors of the Crystal City Concentration Camp, this year’s Pilgrimage will frame many of our programs through the lens of present-day attacks on immigrant communities. The event will include a visit to the site of the former prison camp in Crystal City, and a multi-day educational conference taking place in San Antonio.  

The registration fee costs $395.00 per person, which covers bus transportation from the hotel in San Antonio to Crystal City, pilgrimage-related meals, and other related pilgrimage costs. Registration can be completed using the online form at tinyurl.com/2025CCP. For questions about registration or assistance with the form, please email: info@crystalcitypilgrimage.org

Conference programs will be held at the DoubleTree San Antonio Airport Hotel (611 NW Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78216), which has a special group rate of $119.00 per night plus taxes for both single and double rooms for the duration of the event. Pilgrimage attendees can book online at tinyurl.com/2025CCPhotel using the discount code “CCP.” Hotel bookings can also be made by calling 1-888-728-3031 under the group name “Crystal City Pilgrimage.” 

2025 Poston Pilgrimage - October 24th and 25th!

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