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THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE JACL 25th Redress Anniversary Page 6 Harry K. Honda Reports on Redress. Page 8 A Complete Redress Timeline Page 4 A TRIBUTE TO HARRY K. HONDA The life and legacy of the Page 12 Pacific Citizen Editor Emeritus Seattle Plaque Dedication #3215 / VOL. 157, No. 2 ISSN: 0030-8579 WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG July 19-Aug. 1, 2013 2 July 19-Aug. 1, 2013 LETTERS HOW to REACH US Email: [email protected] Online: www.pacificcitizen.org From the Tel: (213) 620-1767 Letter Editor Fax: (213) 620-1768 Mail: 250 E. First St., Suite 301 t is with great pride and pleasure that I have officially stepped into he wished our entire staff Los Angeles, CA 90012 the executive editor position of the Pacific Citizen. Having served good luck — and that he Staff as interim executive editor since the end September, I am greatly would still make sure to send Executive Editor Allison Haramoto Irelieved to finally move full-steam ahead into getting the P.C. back on me his “Very Truly Yours” track 100% — where it deserves to be. column. I told him that Reporter But as I begin my tenure at the P.C., earlier this month the Asian I would try my best to Nalea J. Ko American community and the world lost a journalism legend in continue the work he started, Business Manager Harry K. Honda, a man who spent countless hours and years working in and he looked at me and said, Susan Yokoyama my very same position to provide our readers the most comprehensive “I know you will.” Production Artist AAPI news coverage imaginable. Even one of his last emails was to Marie Samonte Although I have more than 20 years of journalism experience — acknowledge my appointment by the JACL, writing, “About time Circulation having spent more than 13 of those years working at The Hollywood considering all her prior years in journalism and publications.” Eva Ting Reporter — this is my first foray into the Asian American news Thank you, Harry, for your faith in me. And on that note, thank you The Pacific Citizen newspaper community, and I have to admit that I was unsure of where to even to the JACL for believing in my abilities, too, and to my tireless P.C. (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published begin when I first entered the P.C.’s doors. But right around that time, staff for all that you do. Together we will continue the legacy . semi- monthly (except once in Harry Honda was honored with a “Living Legends” award by the JACL Please feel free to send the P.C. your comments, questions and December and January) by the Japanese American Citizens PSW district council, and the P.C. was there to cover his achievement. concerns, as well as newsworthy items that you feel should be League, Pacific Citizen, Soon after the issue was printed, I was honored when Harry came addressed. The P.C. is here to serve you, our dedicated readers, in 250 E. First St., Suite 301, into our office to personally congratulate the P.C.’s staff on the paper. always covering the AAPI news and information you need to know — Los Angeles, CA 90012 Periodical postage paid at L.A., CA He was very surprised, pleased and humbled to be featured in it. stories that affect you, the community in which you live and the POSTMASTER: Send address And imagine his shock when he discovered that he was on the cover! world around you. changes to National JACL, 1765 My first meeting with Harry was memorable indeed. Here’s to a most promising future for us all. Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115 He very graciously shook my hand and told me how happy he was to — Allison Haramoto, JACL President: David Lin see someone heading up the P.C. again. He gave me a huge smile, and Pacific Citizen Executive Editor National Director: Priscilla Ouchida P.C. EDitOrial bOarD Carol Kawamoto, chairperson; Paul Niwa, EDC; Kevin Miyazaki, MDC; Roberta Brown, CCDC; Mark Kobayashi, NCWNPDC; Hugh Burleson, PNWDC; Gil Asakawa, IDC; John Saito Jr., PSWDC; Kevin Mori, youth rep. SUBSCRIBE Get a one-year subscription of the Pacific Citizen newspaper at: www.pacificcitizen.org or call (800) 966-6157 aDvErtiSE To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, call (800) 966-6157 or e-mail: [email protected] LEGAL No part of this publication may be to reproduced without the express Letter permission of the Pacific Citizen. the Editorials, news and the opinions Editor expressed by columnists other than the national JACL president or national director do not necessarily reflect JACL policy. Events and products Jean-Paul deGuzman is advertised in the Pacific Citizen do not absolutely correct in pointing carry the implicit endorsement of the out my statement that “the path JACL or this publication. We reserve to naturalization was always the right to edit articles. © 2013 open to newcomers” fails Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, to mention the exception of Calif. and mailing office. Asian immigrants. I intended my comment as a statement JACL MEMBERS about economic strategy and Change of should have stated it more Address carefully. As deGuzman If you’ve moved, notes, the McCarran-Walter please send new Act (supported by the JACL) information to: gave the Issei naturalization National JACL rights. Mike Masaoka led the 1765 Sutter St. successful effort to overturn San Francisco, CA President Truman’s veto, a rare 94115 accomplishment, because the Allow 6 weeks for JACL had fought hard for the address changes. passage of the legislation on behalf of the Issei. McCarran- To avoid interrup- Walter may have been flawed, tions in delivery, please notify your as deGuzman points out, but postmaster to I don’t know of any act that include periodicals isn’t, some more than others. in your change of — John Tateishi address (USPS Form 3575) COMMENTARY July 19-Aug. 1, 2013 3 VIEWPOINT ALL PHOTOS: ROBERTA BARTON My JANM Conference Recap By Roberta Barton A poster with signatures of original olling past the fields, forests and coastline of the participants from the first Day of scenic Pacific Northwest by rail car seemed an Remembrance event, held in Seattle in eerie reflection of the same journey taken by 1978, was displayed at a workshop. RJapanese Americans on their way to the Pinedale Assembly Center in Fresno., Calif., from Oregon and Washington more than 70 years before. But my trip home to the Central Valley from Seattle after the Japanese American National Museum’s fourth national conference, “Speaking Up! Democracy, Justice, Dignity,” which commemorated the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, was under very different circumstances. I was not torn away from my home and friends, uncertain of my final destination. This was my first time attending JANM’s conference. Nikkei veterans salute the flag at the JANM Three days of learning and inspiration offered a lot to conference’s opening session. reflect upon during my long journey back home. My first day began at the Community Marketplace helping Heroes.” As an honorary color guard marched up onstage, staff at an information table for the Poston Community many of the vets raised their hands in a poignant salute to Alliance. As an Alliance board member, I enjoyed meeting their flag and fellow servicemen. The power of the audience and the veterans reciting the pledge of allegiance was indeed many Poston detainees and their descendants. Everyone P.C. Editorial Board Member Roberta Barton a special moment. I greeted was very receptive to information about our new (left) reconnected with author Jeanne Wakatsuki Densho founder-director Tom Ikeda was one of several donor brick campaign at the Poston Monument site, and some Houston for an autograph and “fond memories speakers who followed. Ikeda noted the many stories visitors agreed to be interviewed for our new documentary of Fresno.” Houston spoke at a California Reads associated with Seattle as a “place of firsts” in the history honoring mothers and their babies born at Poston. program in Fresno last fall. Soon, the powerful rhythm of taiko called everyone to of the Japanese American experience and the struggle for the opening general session. More than 500 attendees from redress. “We advance democracy by sharing and protecting points as diverse as Canada, Japan and Latin America stories. It is the responsibility of everyone in this room to do — on Thanksgiving Day! Detainees finally opened up cheered the drummers’ high-energy welcome. Emcee Mitch that,” Ikeda said. and inside the safety and privacy of their cars shared with Maki welcomed the audience and connected the power of The general session ended with lots of energy to start the their family members about the trauma of camp. “It broke taiko and the power of the conference’s theme, urging all to opening day. The first workshop I attended was “Tangled the ice,” Abe said. In fact, reframing the re-enactment as a “feel the strength of speaking up.” Routes to Redress,” which expanded on Seattle’s role in “family activity” was key to the event’s success and a major Maki next paid tribute to Nikkei veterans. About a dozen 1978 as the birthplace of the first Day of Remembrance. strategy in fighting negative news coverage. “The air was veterans marched into the grand ballroom to the haunting Panelist Franklin Abe remembered how hundreds of leaking out of the redress balloon,” described Abe. melody of singer-songwriter Harold Payne’s “Quiet families lined up in cars to join the evacuation re-enactment >> See JANM on page 16 But it took the JACL to move the issue into the public arena in a way that unleashed this beast.