FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CR

FRIDAY, 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




# # #





98-089