JACL Announces the Pacific Southwest District 2009
Programming Slate

October 31, 2008

Los Angeles, CA - The Japanese American Citizens League Pacific Southwest District (JACLPSW) announces its slate of youth leadership programs in 2009. Each program is designed to not just train leadership but to create young community advocates in the community, civil rights and policy arenas. These programs will cumulatively train over 100 youth on advocacy issues in the community.

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Washington DC Leadership Conference

October 1, 2008

Washington, DC - This annual leadership training conference is a joint program organized by the JACL which includes participants from the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), the second largest Asian Pacific American civil rights organizations in the United States. This four-day conference provides an opportunity for thirty emerging leaders of the JACL and OCA to learn firsthand about current national public policy issues facing our communities.  The application for this leadership conference is now available.

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JACL Saddened at Passing of Edwin Endow

October 25, 2008

San Francisco, CA -  Members and friends within the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) were saddened to learn of the passing of Edwin Endow, JACL leader from Stockton, California, on October 25, 2008.

JACL Responds to Recent Attack on CU-Boulder Alum

November 4, 2008

Midwest Office - The Midwest office of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) responded to an attack on an Asian American alumnus of the University of Colorado at Boulder, in which the victim was punched in the face and forced to say "I love America."

No on Prop 8 Speakers and Supporters

Japanese Americans Speak Out Against Proposition 8

October 29, 2008

San Francisco, CA - On October 23, Japanese Americans gathered in San Francisco Japantown to speak out against Proposition 8, a ballot measure that would amend the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.  If passed, Proposition 8 would change the constitution so that only marriage between a man and a woman would be valid or recognized in California.

Photo courtesy of Patty Wada

Waiting Room at Minidoka

UPDATE: JACL Signs Onto Joint Letter to Big Sky Farms

October 8, 2008

Jerome, ID – A joint letter on behalf of local, state and national organizations, including JACL was sent to the applicants expressing our collective concern regarding the recent decision by Jerome County Commissioners to approve the construction and operation of a CAFO near the Minidoka National Historic Site.

JACL Gala Commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the
Civil Liberties Act of 1988

Washington, D.C.—October 6, 2008

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) held its second Annual National JACL Gala Awards Dinner, "A Salute to Champions of Redress," at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., on September 25, 2008 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

UPDATE: Rex Johnson Resigns

October 9, 2008

Rex Johnson extended his resignation on October 8, 2008 after a day long meeting of the HTA Board of Directors. SOURCE: Honolulu Advertiser

JACL Outraged at Emails sent by CEO of Hawai'i Tourism Authority

Honolulu, HI - September 19, 2008

The Honolulu Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) responded to a series of offensive emails sent by Hawai'i Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer Rex Johnson that denigrated women and minorities.

JACL Commends Hung Nguyen

Washington, D.C. - October 23, 2008

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) offers its congratulations to Hung Nguyen and commends him for the honor he received from the Fairfax County (Virginia) Board of Supervisors for his more than twelve years as an active volunteer in working tirelessly to increase the number of minority voters.

UPDATE: School Cancels Activity

Alan Mollerskov, the principal of Union Grove High School, contacted JACL Midwest Director Bill Yoshino to inform him that the school decided not to proceed with plans to use an inflated sumo costume for its "Spirit Week" activities.

JACL Responds to Offensive Spirit Week Activity

Midwest Office - October 2, 2008

The Midwest office of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) responded to an offensive spirit week activity at Union Grove HIgh School that involved a wrestling match between the assistant principal dressed in an inflated "sumo" costume and an individual selected by the student body.

JACL Joins Marriage Equality Campaign

Washington, DC  - August 27, 2008

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has joined the "No on Prop 8 Equality for All" Campaign in support of marriage equality in the state of California.  This campaign is an effort to defeat Proposition 8 in November which, if enacted, would not recognize any marriage that is not between a man and a woman.

JACL Announces Mike Honda Fellowship

Los Angeles, CA – The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) seeks applications for the 2008-2009 Mike Honda Fellowship Program, which is funded by Southern California Edison.

JACL Chides Spanish Basketball Team for Offensive Advertisement

Washington, DC – In a August 13 letter to Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee President, JACL National Director Floyd Mori chided the Spanish men’s basketball team for its racially offensive pose in an advertisement in a leading Spanish newspaper.

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