Pros atid cons ()tdropping the Pacific Citizen A ..bom~age9 National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League Established 1m ($1.50 Postpaid U.S.) Newsstond: 2se #2783/Vol 121, No. 4 IS~N: 0030-8579 2 Coral Circle, Suite 204, Monterey Park, CA 91755 (213) 725-0083 August 18-31, 1995 PSW, NCWNP reports VP Murakawa, GOV. Mizobe PSW: Making NCWN P tackles resign from JACL board the leadership affirmative action controversies psw vice governor Minami also transition resigns in protest ~o recent actions By GWEN MURANAKA By ANNE T. OMURA Assistant editor Special to the Pacific Citizen Staff report LONG BEACH-The Pacific SAN JOSE-The highlight After expressing their concerns about the actions and Southwest District meeting of the Aug. 13 Northern Cali­ directions of the organization for more than six months, Aug. 13 proceeded with busi­ fornia-Western Nevada-Pacific Trisha Murakawa, JACL vice president for planning and ness as usual despite the re­ District meeting was a lively development, Ruth Mizobe, PSW governor, and Craig cent resignations of Ruth discussion on affirmative ac­ Minami, PSW vice governor, submitted theirresignatioos Mizobe, PSW district governor. tion. to the National Board. Trisha Murakawa, vice presi­ Forum moderator, John All three cited as a primary reason the Dec. 3, 1994, dent for planning and develop­ Hayashi, emphasized to pan­ ment, and Craig Minami, PSW elists and the audience that MURAKAWA MIZOBE See RESIGN/page 11 vice governor. Karen-Liane the event was purely "informa­ Shiba, PSW recording secre­ tional" and not a "debate" be­ tary, was elevated to the posi­ tween the two panelists. tion interim district governor Despite these admonitions, Pocatello, Idaho, JA on trial for in the wake ofthe resigna tions. the forum sparked heated and John Saito, PSW executive com­ emotional debate between pan­ mittee member, presided over elists Valora Harvey and Lance the meeting. Izumi. Adding to the contro­ allegedly stabbing stepdaughter Shiba said. "The biggest versy, UC Regent Stephen thing we all need to work on is Nakashima spoke in defense of respect. Learning to listen to his recent vote to end affirma­ Local JACL chapter says high bail was discriminatory one another even when we dis­ tive action in the UC system. agree. I want us to work on Izumi, a senior fellow in Cali­ Trial is sched uled to begin Aug. violated based on racial discrimi­ parison, a white male was recently dealing with each other on a fornia Studies with the Pacific 22 for Troy Shiozawa of Pocatello, nation. charged with the murder ofa baby, personal level rather than tak­ Research Institute, spoke in Idaho, accused of stabbing his 2- Bail was initially set at and was asked to produce ing things personally." favor of abolishing affirmative year-old stepdaughter in the back $1,000,000 on the recommenda­ $50,000," said Rammel. Shioza­ Speaking to Pacific Citizen. action. He called affirmative during an argument with his wife. tions of the prosecuting attorney. wa's bail has since been reduced The case has raised concern among Shiozawa's attorney, Bron M. to $50,000 and he has been out on See PSW/page 4 See NCWNP/page 5 local JACL members, who feel that Rammell, noted that such a high bail awaiting trial. Shiozawa's civil rights have been bail is unconstitutional. "In com- Shiozawa, 24, has said that the stabbinl! was accidental and has pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated assault and two counts Voluntary of aggravated battery. Signs of the times: Highways honor vets Rammell said that one of the evacuees are prosecutor's claims against By HARRY K. HONDA Shiozawa is that he "demonstrates now eligible Editor emeritus a paternalistic controlling behav­ ior, indicative of Japanese indi­ STOCKTON-Total atten­ viduals." for redress dance ofWWII Nisei veterans, A number ofthe facts ofthe case families and friends numbered Evacuees who voluntarily left are in dispute. At the time bail about 1,000 when three memo­ was set, prosecutors alleged that the West Coast in 1942 will now rial highway markers were be eligible for redres , according Shiozawa repeatedly stabbed both dedicated betweenJ une 10 and mother and child. But the defense to two cases recently decided by Augu t 4 at Simi Valley for the the United States Court of Ap­ attorney said that the daughter MIS, Fresno for the 100th and had one wound, which was at peals for the Federal Circuit. Stockton for the 442nd. But The first case is lsI! ida u. Uni led maximum penetration two inches, the impact is greater as thou­ and that the mother had not been States. Douglas Ishida was born sands more travel daily on in November, 1942, after his par­ stabbed. State Highway 23 between Last April, hi ozawa was re­ ents had moved from California Simi Valley and Thou and to Ohio. arr sted on a charge of violating Oaks and on Highway 99 be­ bail when claims were made that The government had denied re­ BIG AND BOLD-Highway sign in Stockton, Calif., pays tribute to the tween Manteca/Salida and be- dress to Ishida, but the court said, soldiers of the 442nd RCT as well as the 100th Battalion and the MIS. he had attempted to contact his See SIGNS/page 5 "We disagree with the government Ceremonies were held Aug. 4. Photo JEM LEW that the act is limited to those See TRIAUpage 12 excluded from their present 'resi­ dence.' Coverage of individuals such as Ishida who were deprived Judge Ito: Solidarity in a time of anti-Asian sentiment ofbasic civil liberties because they were excluded from their family need to remind Asian Americans, apologized on the floor of the en­ homes during the statutory pe­ By GWEN MURANAKA Assistant editor we in aUfomia have seen similar at , admitting the remark wa riod as a result of the specified trends befor ." insensiti e. government actions is explicit in H reu rred to the alien land O.J .' Legal Pad, a be tselier, the recommendations of the Com­ LOS ANGELES-While he serves in a solitary role as judge law and J apa nese exclusion act include rad t c ricatur of Ito mission on Wartime Relocation, s yi ng,"Myowngrandfath rcould with buck teeth and slant eyes as upon which Congress based the presiding over the O.J . Simpson double murder trial, Judge Lance not own property." a kamikaze pilot and a bayonet­ act." Without naming nam ,Ito r - carrying Japanes soldier. At the Speaking to Pacific Citizen, Ri­ Ito said that if is important for Asian Americans 1.0 stick together fI rr d obliquely t.o racist parodie tim , JA L joined oth I' group chard Halberstein, attorney for by New YorkS n.Alfons D'Amato deli nding Ito and prot sting both Ishida, said the ruling reaffirms in a time of increased bias. Speaking at the recent Los An­ mocking th judg, nd O.J.·s Le· incid nt . the original intent of the Civil gal Pad, publish d by Villard Ito ,'pre_sed hi own feelings Liberties Act of 1988. geles County Asian Am rican As­ sociation Employees dinner, Ito Book , a subsidiar of Random ying. '" have all xperiEmced "The Congress intended to give Hous problems. Ther r public fig­ redress to all people affected by said, ''These are very dangerous times for us as Asian Americans. D'Amalo had mock d Ito dur­ ur s who u racial t r otyp . the evacuation, not just a narrow ing a eudio int rvi w, using a f: k I'm a tough gu '. but I gotta tell group. The original will of Con- Wc mustbe prepared to face lhosf' dangers. There is a trend of grow­ LANCE ITO Photo SHtGEKI KIKKAWA .Jnp n se ace nt and calling him See ITO/page 12 See REDRESS/page 12 illgtoleranceofinlolerance.l don't Concern for JA community "liLtl Judge Ito." D'Amato later \. I H • '/ 7th NATIONAL JACL SINGLES CONVENTION Labor Day Weekend September 1-3 llh Westin South Coast Plaza IIotel, Costa Mesa, California Nlllooll IAU \tnglu (onvrnllon Information: 7141496-7779 2-Pacific Citizen, August 18-31, 1995 No. 2,783 Join the group S~t6'P~e~ JACL calendar Get all the news and features from across the country schools. Film based interviews noon Sunday; $33 r.t., first come first /I you wish 10 subscribe .or have moved IMPORTANT conducted with Asian American men serve. throughout the country. (Allow 6 weeks 10 report address change with label on fronl page) All JACL and Community calen­ API LAMBDA . EffecHve dale,_____ _ dar items must Include the follow­ SAN JOSE Sun. Sept 17-General meeting in LA, ing information: what, where, Chapter Board on 2nd Fridays; '96 info: May Yamamoto 310/355-8363. Please send the Pacific Citizen for: when (date, time), phone Convention Committee on 3rd _1 yr/$30 _2 yrs/$55 _3 yrs/$80 number(s) and contact person. Tuesdays. info: 408/295-1250. WEST LOS ANGELES Sat. Oct. 21-Casino night, Lou's Sat. Aug. 26-Scholarship benefitsteak Name: _________________ Village; Mark Kobayashi, chair, 4081 bake , Early Bird bingo, 4 p.m., Sawtelle Addrea,______________ ___ 295-1250. Gakuen, 2110 Corinth, info: George City, State, Zip ______________ Ptldwest SAN MATEO Kanegai 310/820-5250. DISTRICT COUNCIL Sat. Aug. 26-Community potluck All subscriptions payable in advance. Foreign: US $22,00 extra per year. Fri.-Sun., Oct. 6-8-Fall DC meeting, dinner, S.M. Senior Center, 5-8p.m.; Checks payable to: Pacific Citizen, 2 Coral Circle, #204, Monterey Park, CA 91755 Holiday Inn Airport. (DetailS to come) .