The JACL is Covered: Paving the Way for a Healthier Tomorrow

Internship Summary:

Washington, D.C. (12/2/09) - On Tuesday, December 1, 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Jacqueline Nguyen as a federal district judge in the Central District of California by a vote of 97 to 0. The Japanese American Citizens League, the largest and oldest civil and human rights organization in the nation, applauds the U.S. Senate and congratulates Judge Nguyen for this historic confirmation, as she is the first Vietnamese-American woman to serve as a federal district court judge in the United States. 

Washington, D.C. (11/16/09) - The Japanese American Citizens League, the largest and oldest civil and human rights organization in the nation, applauds Kiran Ahuja on her appointment by President Barack Obama as Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Washington, D.C. (11/13/09) - The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, was disgusted by the behavior of one of the guests on Don Imus' radio show this past Monday.  Bo Dietl, a former NYPD detective and a regular guest on Imus' show, made disparaging, racist comments against Asian Americans as part of a rant on Katie Couric's appearance.

Washington, D.C. (11/6/09) --  The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization in the United States, joins the nation in expressing sincere condolences to the families and colleagues of those slain and injured yesterday at Ft. Hood, Texas.  The JACL community is saddened that brave and patriotic soldiers were sacrificed in such a defenseless manner.  The JACL strongly condemns this senseless taking of innocent lives regardless of the motivation.

Washington, DC (11/3/09) - The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is proud to announce that the fiscal 2010 Department of Interior appropriations bill included funding for several World War II Concentration Camp preservation projects. Preservation of these historic camps in which Japanese Americans were incarcerated without due process has been a top priority of the JACL. The JACL Washington D.C. Office has worked closely with Senators Inouye and Feinstein as well as Congressman Honda in assuring the inclusion of camp preservation elements in the 2010 Fiscal Budget.

Washington D.C. (10/28/09) -- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, was on hand for the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 Conference Report which includes the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  President Barack Obama signed the legislation today.

Washington, D.C. - President Barack Obama, at a special White House Ceremony, signed an Executive Order to reestablish the President's Advisory Commission and White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).  This was first established by President Bill Clinton ten years ago.  The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, joined with other groups from within the AAPI community in praising this action.

     Please contact your Senators and urge them to oppose the Vitter amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill for FY2010. The Vitter Amendment would add an extra question to the 2010 census asking about legal immigration status. This will intimidate many immigrant communities from filling out their census forms including legal and native-born immigrants. It will also prevent the Census Bureau from completing the census by its deadlines and waste $7 billion in research and planning.

TO FRIENDS OF THE JACL:

One of the camps which housed Japanese Americans during World War II is located at Poston, Arizona.  The Camp Preservation Programs are going on, and help is requested for the Poston Restoration Project which is required to raise matching funds.  Poston news is included here.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.

POSTON NEEDS YOUR HELP!  By Dianne Kiyomoto