Not a “Model Minority” but a “Model Civil Rights Advocate”
Florin Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Celebrates 75th Anniversary Jan 24th
SACRAMENTO - Not the “model minority” or the “quiet American” – Japanese Americans have experienced injustice through their World War II internment and learned to speak up for the civil rights and fair treatment of all Americans. As one of the oldest and leading civil rights groups in the Sacramento area, the Florin JACL celebrates its 75th Anniversary at a lunch on Sunday, January 24, 2010, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento. Tickets to the event are $50.00 per person. Please contact Judy Fukuman by January 22nd for tickets.
Whether helping to desegregate a local Sacramento school in 1939, overturn a ban on Japanese American immigrants gaining citizenship in 1952, redress the World War II concentration camp internment in 1988, lead a community coalition on the 1993 Sacramento firebombing trial, reach out to support Muslim, Arab, and Sikh Americans against backlash after 9/11/2001, or back the victims of hate crimes such as Satendar Singh (a gay, Indian Fijian American) murdered in 2007, the Florin Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has spoken out,
Since its 1935 founding by the children of Japanese American farmers in south Sacramento, the Florin JACL, though most often known as a civil rights advocate, has grown into a broad community organization promoting multi-cultural understanding, community service, and leadership. It sponsors a diverse array of educational programs for cultural, youth, multi-racial concerns, women, peace, historical, civil rights, and other interests,
The Florin JACL has taken to heart the lessons of their World War II internment saying “Never again” and striving to be a guardian of the Constitution and the rights of all Americans to be free from bigotry, racism, and backlash. Here are some of the historical highlights of the Florin JACL over the past 75 years:
This year’s event will be a luncheon with a special program highlighting the Florin JACL’s 75 year history. The Chapter will also recognize distinguished community partners of the Elk Grove Unified School District and Mr. Kais Menoufy, respected community leader, head of the Delegata Corporation, and Muslim American. The theme of the anniversary event, “Kansha – with Gratitude” shows the Florin JACL’s appreciation for the pioneering generations in the Japanese American community, efforts for equal rights over the decades, and its valued community partners.
There event features a performance by the Sacramento Taiko-dan and master dance teacher Hanayagi Juanna performing Japanese classical dance. News10.net Live Anchor Sharon Ito serves as as MC. Special Guests are Japanese Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine and Mrs. Nagamine
For more information about the Florin JACL 75th Anniversary Celebration,please contact Judy Fukuman. For more information about the Florin JACL’s community programs, please visit us at www.florinjacl.com.
About Florin JACL
The Florin Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is one of the oldest and most active local organizations promoting the civil rights of all people. In 1935 2nd generation Japanese Americans founded the Chapter in the former Florin farming community in south Sacramento. Over more than the past 25 years, the Florin JACL has actively led efforts for multi-cultural understanding, forging successful educational partnerships with the Elk Grove Unified School District; California State University at Sacramento; the California State Museum for History, Women, and the Arts; and local JACL Chapters. Reaching thousands of people each year, it continues to focus on the Japanese American experience and its important constitutional issues for all Americans today. The Florin JACL is one of the 114 chapters of the national JACL, the oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil rights organization in the country.
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Whether helping to desegregate a local Sacramento school in 1939, overturn a ban on Japanese American immigrants gaining citizenship in 1952, redress the World War II concentration camp internment in 1988, lead a community coalition on the 1993 Sacramento firebombing trial, reach out to support Muslim, Arab, and Sikh Americans against backlash after 9/11/2001, or back the victims of hate crimes such as Satendar Singh (a gay, Indian Fijian American) murdered in 2007, the Florin Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has spoken out,
Since its 1935 founding by the children of Japanese American farmers in south Sacramento, the Florin JACL, though most often known as a civil rights advocate, has grown into a broad community organization promoting multi-cultural understanding, community service, and leadership. It sponsors a diverse array of educational programs for cultural, youth, multi-racial concerns, women, peace, historical, civil rights, and other interests,
The Florin JACL has taken to heart the lessons of their World War II internment saying “Never again” and striving to be a guardian of the Constitution and the rights of all Americans to be free from bigotry, racism, and backlash. Here are some of the historical highlights of the Florin JACL over the past 75 years:
- 1939: Successfully desegregated the all Japanese American Florin East Grammar School.
- 1942 and 1948: Assisted Japanese Americans forcibly evacuated in WWII and then later resettled back in the Sacramento area
- 1952: Supported the overturn of the ban on immigrant Japanese Americans (Issei generation) becoming naturalized citizens
- 1983: Organized the first local Time of Remembrance programs that contributed to eventual redress passage in 1988. (The Time of Remembrance programs continue annually).
- 1986: Co-founded the local August Women’s Peace Event to commemorate the lessons of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II and support current peace efforts.
- 1988: Initiated the Florin JACL Oral History Project that published over a 15 year period more than 85 books on stories sharing the experiences of members, families, and friends of the Japanese American community.
- 1989: Organized the first hate crime forum in the local Asian American community.
- 1989: Headed up successful public campaign to secure apology from local TV station for using racial slur “Chinaman” in a news cast.
- 1990: Mobilized community awareness and support along with the Marysville JACL for Tom Ly, Hmong college student in Marysville, who was attacked due to his race and for associating with his Caucasian friends.
- 1991: Organized Japanese American community coalition to speak out in support of Arab and Muslim Americans threatened by backlash, intimidation, and vandalism during the 1st Gulf War.
- 1992: Headed up the multi-ethnic coalition in the Japanese, Chinese, and Italian communities for bi-lingual cable TV programming.
- 1992: Coordinated public awareness efforts about the 50th Anniversary of the December 7, 1942 bombing of Pearl Harbor to promote understanding, deter racial backlash, and defuse the growing domestic danger of anti-Japan trade backlash.
- 1993: Sponsored the annual Florin JACL Women’s Forum addressing diverse health, cultural, and empowerment issues for women and families.
- 1993: Organized public support and awareness when the Florin JACL, Time of Remembrance program, and Mary Tsukamoto were targeted by a mailed hate threat.
- 1993 – 1994: Led the community coalition around the trial of the Sacramento Firebomber who attacked the Sacramento NAACP office, Sacramento JACL, Temple B’nai Israel, and City Councilman Jimmie Yee’s home.
- 1994: Supported the National JACL marriage equality resolution.to oppose gay couples being banned from marriage, as Japanese Americans had once been banned from marrying people of other races. The only other national group in support was the ACLU.
- 1994: Initiated the Japanese American Archival Collection with the CSU-Sacramento Library.
- 1995- 1997: Co-chaired local Asian Pacific American coalition supporting affirmative action equality efforts around Proposition 209.
- 1996: Florin JACL recognized as the Chapter of the Biennium by the National JACL.
- 1999: Organized 1st annual local Multi-Racial Forum to explore issues and support the growing multi-racial community
- 2000: Co-sponsored with the Florin Young Buddhist Association (YBA) the first Interactive Camp Experience Workshop for the Northern California YBA Conference to provide to high school students insight and lessons from the World War II internment.
- 2000 and 2002: Led the efforts for a National JACL apology recognizing the legitimate protests by World War II internee draft resisters against the unjust imprisonment of Japanese Americans.
- 2001: Mobilized the Japanese American community against backlash towards Muslim, Arab, and Sikh Americans unfairly targeted after 9/11.
- 2001: Co-chaired successful community efforts to secure an apology from local radio station for using the racial slur “Chinaman” in its broadcasts
- 2002: Revived the Florin JACL Youth Project starting with the N. California JACL Youth Conference in Oakland, California.
- 2003: Helped to organize the annual Time of Remembrance exhibit with the California State Museum of History, Women, and the Arts in partnership with the CSU-Sacramento Japanese American Archival Collection, and five other valley JACL Chapters to educate thousands of Northern California students each year.
- Florin JACL recognized as the Chapter of the Biennium by the National JACL.
- 2006: Sponsored an Interactive Camp Experience Workshop with the Council on American Islamic Relations – Sacramento Valley for Muslim American high school students at the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM).
- 2006: Organized the 1st Sacramento area pilgrimage to the former World War II Manzanar Internment Camp with the Council on American Islamic Relations-Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV) on an annual basis.
- 2007 – 2008: Built grass roots support efforts during the hate crime trial against the murderers of Satendar Singh, a gay Indian Fijian American.
- 2008: Sponsored the first set of annual Japanese American cultural events including the Florin Obon Dance Workshop and Florin Mochi Madness (mochi pounding) Workshop / Potluck Social.
- 2009: Co-sponsored with the Council on American Islamic Relations-Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV) a panel at the Annur Mosque of Japanese and Muslim Americans sharing the parallels between the two experiences after December 7th Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attack.
This year’s event will be a luncheon with a special program highlighting the Florin JACL’s 75 year history. The Chapter will also recognize distinguished community partners of the Elk Grove Unified School District and Mr. Kais Menoufy, respected community leader, head of the Delegata Corporation, and Muslim American. The theme of the anniversary event, “Kansha – with Gratitude” shows the Florin JACL’s appreciation for the pioneering generations in the Japanese American community, efforts for equal rights over the decades, and its valued community partners.
There event features a performance by the Sacramento Taiko-dan and master dance teacher Hanayagi Juanna performing Japanese classical dance. News10.net Live Anchor Sharon Ito serves as as MC. Special Guests are Japanese Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine and Mrs. Nagamine
For more information about the Florin JACL 75th Anniversary Celebration,please contact Judy Fukuman. For more information about the Florin JACL’s community programs, please visit us at www.florinjacl.com.
About Florin JACL
The Florin Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is one of the oldest and most active local organizations promoting the civil rights of all people. In 1935 2nd generation Japanese Americans founded the Chapter in the former Florin farming community in south Sacramento. Over more than the past 25 years, the Florin JACL has actively led efforts for multi-cultural understanding, forging successful educational partnerships with the Elk Grove Unified School District; California State University at Sacramento; the California State Museum for History, Women, and the Arts; and local JACL Chapters. Reaching thousands of people each year, it continues to focus on the Japanese American experience and its important constitutional issues for all Americans today. The Florin JACL is one of the 114 chapters of the national JACL, the oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil rights organization in the country.
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