aci ic citizen National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League NewsstaDd: 25e (soe postPafd) Whole No. 2,421 Vol. 104 No.1 ISSN: 0030-85790 941 East 3rd St. Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 626-6936 Friday, Jan. 2-9, 1987 Special New Year Edition NEWS IN BRIEF Inouye to Head Iran Investigation WASIllNGTON -Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) was named Dec. 16 to head an ll-member Senate panel that will study the Reagan Ad­ ministration's secret arms deals with Iran and the diversion of the profits to the cantros in Nicaragua The committee was formally established when Congress reconvened Jan. 6. First elected to the Senate in 1962 and now the third-ranking Senate Democrat, Inouye seIVed on the special Senate committee that investigated the Watergate scandal during the Nixon Admini­ stration and became the first chairman of the Senate Select Commit­ tee on Intelligence in Un6. Onizuka's Family Gets Settlement WASIllNGTON - The families of four astronauts killed in the explo­ sion ofthe space shuttle Challenger lastyear-Ellison Onizuka, Fran­ cis (Dick) Scobee, Christa McAuliffe, and Gregory J arvis-have set­ tled with the government for damages, 00 percent of which will be provided by Morton Thiokol, maker of the shuttle's failed rocket boosters. Although the Justice Department declined to disclose the exact amount of the settlement, it is believed to be at least $750,<XX> Photo by Sachi Yamamoto per family because the agreement was signed by Deputy Attorney At L.A. press conference, Rev. Jesse Jackson appears with (from left) PSW JACL regionardirector John Saito, General Arnold Burns, who must approve civil agreements exceed­ Jong Won Rhee of Korean Institute for Human Rights, and Evelyn Yoshimura of Asians for Rainbow Coalition. ing that amount None of the four families had brought legal action against the gov­ ernment, NASA or Morton Thiokol, and the settlement precludes Jackson: Japan any future claims. The families of astronauts Ronald McNair and Asian Coalition to Examine Michael'Smith have filed suit, and no settlement has been reached Must Improve with survivors of astronaut Judy Resnik The settlement is meant to "provide adequate financial security" Treatment of Racial Violence in Schools for the families, the Justice Department said Onizuka is survived by his wife Lorna and daughters Janelle and Darien. Minorities OAKLAND, Calif - The Break second language) instructor. One the Silence Coalition, sponsor of of her students, a Cambodian by J.K. Yamamoto a conference on anti-Asian vio­ man, claimed that his son, a stu­ Court Upholds Noguchi's Demotion Rev. Jesse Jackson, havingjust lence held last May at UC Berke­ dent at McCIymonds High School, returned from a trip to Asia, dis­ ley. has targeted racial violence had been physically assaulted by cussed Japan's relations with U.S. in the schools as one ofits primary three Black students When the LOS ANGELES - The state Court of Appeal decided Dec. 12 to minorities and its treatment of issues for investigation in 1987. man notified school authorities, uphold the 1983 demotion of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, who had been its own minorities during press Sam Cacas, project coordinator he was reportedly told there was county coroner for 14 years. conferences held Dec. 16 in Los of the Community Violence Pre­ nothing the school could do about Noguchi was removed from his position in 1982 by the Board of Angeles and Dec. 17 in San Fran­ vention Project at Asian Commu­ it Reports such as this prompted Supervisors, which charged him with mismanagement and using his cisco. nity Mental Health Services'in the coalition to examine the issue office to promote his outside activities. In March 1983, the Civil The visit to Japan and South Oakland and chair of the Vio­ Service Commission voted 4 to 1 to uphold the supervisors' action, The coalition, whose members Korea by Jackson and members lence Against Asians Task Force, include JACL, Chinese fur Affinn­ and Superior Court Judge Norman Epstein later upheld the comm~ of his Rainbow Coalition was has been monitorlngtensions be­ ative Action and Asian Law Cau­ sion's decision. Noguchi was demoted to physician-specialist and prompted by the controversial tween Blacks and Asians. He feels cus, provides information on anti­ transferred to County-USC Medical Center. remark about the intelligence of that there has been an increase In its ruling, the Appeals Court called Noguchi "an outstanding Asian violence through a quarter­ Blacks and Hispanics made by in racially motivated assaults in ly newsletter, educational pre­ pathologist and forensic scientist" but added that "he lacks the man­ Japanese Prime Minister Yasu­ the Oakland public schools. sentations and regular meetings. agerial skills and administrative ability to run the coroner's office." biro Nakasone last year, as well 'Continuing Violence' Copies of the p~ from as the invitation of Korean and 'Though there are a few key last year's conference, which list other human rights groups. school officials who recognize individuals and organizations in­ ''Black Americans buy about the seriousness of the problem," volved in the issue, are available Politicos, Entertainers Turn 18 percent ofthe Japanese goods, he said, ''the contmuingviolence for $3. and yet there is no commitment between Blacks and Asians is not For more information about Out for Redress Fund-Raiser of afflrmative action and a shar­ being adequately addressed." the coalition, call Rachel Shige­ ing of trade," Jackson told report­ Cacas cited an unconfumed kane or Robin Wu at Chinese for ers at the Japanese American report from an ESL (English as a Affirmative Action, (415) 002Gl)1 by George Matsuoka cials and representatives of Cultural and Community Center and Steve Koyasako other community organizations in Los Angeles, citing as an ex­ participated. Nathaniel Colley, ample the scarcity ofBlack-owned SACRAMENTO - More than ax> Japanese auto dealerships. D.C.-Area Jewish Community people attended the "Japanese Sr., a noted Sacramento civil American Redress Event" spon­ rights lawyer, served as master 'Fair Relationship' sored by Americans for Fairness of ceremonies and set the tone "Just as we have challenged Gr.oup Endorses Redress Bills on Nov. 29 at the Sacramento City of the evening with his statement General Motors and Ford and College auditorium. that redress was necessary be­ Chrysler to be fair in employ­ WASIllNGl'ON - The Jewish nese Americans, Council Presi­ The program was both a fund­ cause "America had done vio­ ment and management . we ex­ Community Cowlcil of Greater dent NornUlll Goldstein said, raiser and an educational forum lence to our sense of justice .. pect a new and fair relationship Washington passed on Nov. 12 a "Acknowledging these acts as intended to give the Sacramento when presumption of innocence [with Japanese companies]," he resolution supporting redress violations of constitutionally Valley communities a greater was ignored" said. legislation pending in Congress. guaranteed liberties, as well as awareness of the issue of redress Mayor Anne Rudin extended Alluding to calls that have The re olution was brought to taking steps to redress the injus­ for Japanese Americans interned greetings on behalf of the city been made for a boycott of J apa­ the council' executive boru:d by tices, are essential for protecting duringWW2. and alluded to her part in the nese products by the Black com­ the Int rgroup Relation Com­ these rights in the future." Approximately $W,<XX> was City Council's unanimous pas­ munity, he said, "We have to now mittee, chaired by Ira Baltfi ld, The text ofthe resolution reads: raised to support efforts by LEC sage of a resolution supporting use .. economic leverage to re­ which met with JACL Eastern "Out of our con ern for th guaJ.'­ to secure passage of redress leg­ redress. define our relationship with Ja­ District Govemor Mike Suzuki antee of rights provided fur by islation in Congress. An award-winning slide pre­ panese companies. Those that on Oct 21. th United Stat Constitution, The event attracted multi­ sentation of the JA experience, support us, we should support. Referring to the wartim up­ th J wish Community Council ethnic support, and elected offi- ConUnued on next page Continued 00 Page 13 rooting and intemment of Japa- Conlioutd 00 PIJie IS =2~~A~C~IF~~~C~I~n=~~/~F~n~dl~y~,h~n~u~I~~2-~9~,1~9_87----------------------------------~I No. 2.421 .: Allow 6 weeks advance notice to report address change with label on front LEe EVENT i If you are moving / Wish to subscribe, : Write New Address below. Effective date ................................................................ : Please send the Pacific Citizen for: developed by 14-year-oldJeffOta I 0 1-Yr $20 0 2-Yrs $38 0 3-Yrs $56 of San Jose and fellow student I Kevin Kishimoto, was then pre- To: ...................................... ... ...................... .. ............... ...... .. ........ ............ sented.. • Address: ..................................................................................................... Reps. Nonnan Mineta (D-San City, State, ZIP: .......................... .. ............................................................. Jose) and Robert Matsui (D-Sac­ All subscriptions payable in advance. Foreign: US$12.00 extra per year. ramento), introduced by Assem­ Checks payable to: Pacific Citizen, 941 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 blyman and fonner Sacramento EXPIRATION NOTICE-If the last four digits on the top row of your labef reads 1286, the 6O-day grace paned ends With the last Issue In February. 1987 Please renew your subSCription or membership. If Mayor Philip IsenJ>erg, gave an membership has been renewed and the paper stops. notify the PC office. update on the status of the re­ dress bills. ---------------------~~---------------------------- Mineta, recently elected to his seventh term, expressed strong optimism: "I state a simple belief New York Man Sentenced that not only should it pass but it will be a decent bill we could Minoru Sakaguchi, center, vice president and director of Kikkoman Intema­ beproudof..