THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE JACL May 22-June 4, 2020 CELEBRATING 9 1 YEARS » PAGE 6 AN UNEXPECTED HOMECOMING » PAGE 2 San Jose Holds a Virtual Evacuated from Comoros, one Pilgrimage to Manzanar Peace Corps volunteer returns to in Light of COVID-19. life in a very different America. » PAGE 8 Tod Mikuriya: The JA Kako Yamada joined in on a spontaneous dance circle to celebrate her finish at the International Women’s Day 5K. She didn’t imagine that her plans to run again in next year’s race would be canceled by the global evacuation. Many plans and dreams were shattered Father of the Medical when she was forced to return to the U.S. as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. PHOTO: COURTESY OF KAKO YAMADA Marijuana Movement #3365 / VOL. 170, No. 9 ISSN: 0030-8579 WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG 2 May 22-June 4, 2020 NATIONAL/COMMUNITY JACL’S INOUE URGES JUDGE TO FREE DETAINED FAMILIES HOW TO REACH US Email: [email protected] By JACL National Family Residential Centers on an and ALDEA-The People’s Justice repeated incidences of contagious Online: www.pacificcitizen.org emergency basis due to the imminent Center who have filed theO.M.G. v. diseases, separation of families and Tel: (213) 620-1767 n a statement streamed via risk of a COVID-19 outbreak.” Wolf case in the U.S. District Court were forced to sign a double-binding Mail: 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 Facebok Live, JACL Executive Los Angeles, CA 90012 Inoue, who was wearing a mask to for the District of Columbia seeking questionnaire to determine who might Director David Inoue called on cover his nose and mouth and holding to release all families being held in or might not be released. We are STAFF IJudge James Boasberg on May 20 to Executive Editor more than 500 strung-together the Family Residential Centers on shocked and disheartened to hear that release “all families being held in the Allison Haramoto origami cranes, read the statement on an emergency basis due to the im- our mass incarceration, later deemed Senior Editor behalf of Tsuru for Solidarity in front minent risk of a COVID-19 outbreak. a violation of our constitutional and Digital & Social Media George Johnston of the John Marshall statue near the All three family detention facilities, human rights, is being repeated again. Business Manager E. Barrett Prettyman United States Berks, Karnes and Dilley, have failed “We urge Judge James Boasberg Susan Yokoyama Courthouse in Washington, D.C. to take adequate measures to protect who will be hearing the case today Production Artist Inoue’s statement follows. detained families from COVID-19, to affirm the lessons learned from Marie Samonte “I am here today representing and there is no justification for risk- the historic tragedy of the Japanese Circulation Tsuru for Solidarity, a direct action ing these families’ health and safety. American mass incarceration Eva Ting project of Japanese American social “We are appalled by the recently experience and release all families The Pacific Citizen newspaper justice advocates working to end implemented efforts by ICE to being held in the Family Residential (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published semi- detention sites and support front-line bypass requirements of the Flores Centers due to imminent risk of a monthly (except once in December and January) by the Japanese Ameri- immigrant and refugee communities Settlement and other health and COVID-19 outbreak. It is the just can Citizens League, Pacific Citizen, that are being targeted by racist, safety requirements by imposing and humane decision to make.” 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 inhumane immigration policies. a questionnaire to be signed by Following the formal statement, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Periodical postage paid at L.A., CA We stand on the moral authority of detained parents, to be detained Inoue noted how the present-day POSTMASTER: Send address chang- Japanese Americans who suffered indefinitely with their child, or agree incarceration can traumatize those es to National JACL, 1765 Sutter St., JACL Executive Director great injustices in U.S. concentration to have their child be separated from people and their families not just San Francisco, CA 94115 David Inoue urges Judge camps during World War II. them and transferred to a ‘sponsor.’ now but also for future generations JACL President: Jeffrey Moy James Boasberg to release “We are here today in support of “Over 78 years ago, 120,000 as well. Executive Director: David Inoue detained families for health the Refugee and Immigrant Center Japanese Americans were unjustly The video of Inoue reading the P.C. EDITORIAL BOARD and humanitarian reasons. for Education and Legal Services detained and incarcerated under statement can be viewed at tinyurl. Rob Buscher, chairperson; Ron Kura- moto, MDC; Danielle Pierce, EDC; PHOTO: JACL (RAICES), Rapid Defense Network mass living conditions. We suffered com/ycwhd5qn. Marcia Chung, CCDC; Nancy Ukai, NCWNPDC; Sheldon Arakaki, PNWDC; Kayla Watanabe, IDC; John Saito Jr., SAN JOSE JACL SPONSORS A VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE TO MANZANAR PSWDC; Juli Yoshinaga, Youth Rep. By Madison Tamaichi chapter’s Manzanar committee knew including small group discussions six-hour event. Subscribe it had to get creative. that consisted of conversations with Kicking off the program was an art Get a one-year subscription of the hange. It’s inevitable. As Pacific Citizen newspaper at: The chapter decided on a virtual people of different backgrounds to exhibit and a virtual reality tour of www.pacificcitizen.org or call Americans enter into the tour for April 25 when its members talk about topics that are relevant to Manzanar by Hashmoud and Thiel. (213) 620-1767 second month of sheltering- found out that Tamiko Thiel and today, as well as to share histories The program also included poetry by Advertise Cin-place orders, people have learned Zara Hashmoud, creators of the — something that could not be left Sojin Takei, pictures from World War To advertise in the Pacific Citi- how to adapt to this “new normal.” “Beyond Manzanar” virtual exhibit, out because the conversations are II featuring Thiel’s family, as well zen, call (213) 620-1767 or e-mail: Although it seems like a bleak time, were interested in joining the event. always rich and full of different view- as a walk through an Iranian garden. [email protected] it’s also a space for creativity and in- Ideas started to flow, former in- points. The San Jose JACL decided The presentation, both beautiful LEGAL novation, an opportunity for growth, carcerees agreed to participate in a to separate the speakers and group and haunting, demonstrated the par- No part of this publication may be a chance to learn a new skill, recon- Q & A panel, leaders of the redress discussions with a webinar series allels between the Iranian Hostage reproduced without the express per- nect with old friends or take some mission of the Pacific Citizen. movement committed to talk about and smaller Zoom groups, thereby Crisis and the mass incarceration of Editorials, letters, news and the opin- time for reflection. the fight for redress and repara- allowing the chapter to extend its Japanese Americans. It was a power- ions expressed by columnists other At the San Jose JACL, innovation tions and a trainer from the Coun- program beyond its Silicon Valley ful analogy that set the tone for the than the national JACL president or would prove to be necessary for the cil of American Islamic Relations, roots and include participants from rest of the presentations. national director do not necessarily re- chapter’s second-annual pilgrimage flect JACL policy. Events and products San Francisco Bay Area, chapter across the country and the world. Up next were first-person accounts advertised in the P.C. do not carry the to Manzanar. With the actual event agreed to provide bystander train- As a result, the chapter drew more implicit endorsement of the JACL or canceled due to COVID-19, the ing. Another big component was than 600 people throughout the » See PILGRIMAGE on page 4 this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles. © 2020 Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, Calif. and mailing office. SPRING CAMPAIGN JACL MEMBERS DONATE $150 OR MORE AND RECEIVE ONE ENTRY TO OUR MONTHLY DRAWINGS! Change of Address WINNERS CAN CHOOSE FROM: Mikami Vineyard Zinfindel 750ml | Hello Kitty JANM If you’ve moved, please send new Tote Bag | 1 year Pacific Citizen Newspaper Subscription information to: National JACL Name : 1765 Sutter St. ‘I’m glad to see the Pacific Citizen San Francisco, CA 94115 Address 1: growing and evolving with its web- (415) 921-5225 site, and especially LOVE the much ext. 26 easier-to-navigate digital archives. Phone Number : E-mail : Allow 6 weeks for It’s a treasure trove for JAs to learn address changes. about our community’s history, and JACL MEMBER? q q q$50 q$100 q$150 q$200 qOTHER ——— for scholars and journalists looking To avoid interruptions The P.C.’s mission is to ‘educate on the past Japanese American experience and preserve, promote to connect the past with the present. in delivery, Thanks for the improvements, P.C.!’ please notify your and help the current and future AAPI communities.’ postmaster to include — Gil Asakawa periodicals in your * Your donations will help build and preserve a cohesive library of the Pacific Citizen to educate future generations.* change of address INFORMATION: 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 | Los Angeles, CA 90012 | TEL: (213) 620-1767 | WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG (USPS Form 3575) COMMENTARY May 22-June 4, 2020 3 to be a better speaker would help him sons, two through AIDS and one in his future activism, so he could through an act of gun violence.