FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1998 (202) 616-2777
TDD (202) 514-1888
ACTING ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL LANN LEE TO MEET WITH
JAPANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY GROUPS TO DISCUSS REDRESS ISSUES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Bill Lann Lee will meet with Japanese American community groups in Los Angeles today to discuss the status of railroad and mining workers whose jobs were terminated during the World War II. The groups are asking the Justice Department to make these workers and their families eligible for redress under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
During World War II, Japanese Americans who worked for railroad and mining companies were fired from their jobs because the companies, working with the federal government, found that the workers posed a security risk due to their Japanese ancestry.
The meeting will be closed to the press. However, Mr. Lee will be available to speak to any interested members of the media about the issue following the meeting.
COMMUNITY MEETING
TIME: 4:00 PM PST
DATE: Friday, February 27, 1998
SITE: Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
244 S. San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, California
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98-089