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The 2023 JACL Sponsored BOSANKAI SERVICE
Sunday May 21, 2023 at 1 pm at Greenwood Cemetery's Upper Terrace 211 N Government Way, Spokane Each year we recognize and remember the people from the Spokane Japanese community, or those who have strong ties to the Japanese community, who have passed away around prior May to current May of each year.
In-person event
Sunday April 23, 2023 12:30pm - 1:30pm Montvale Event Center: Third Floor Ballroom 1019 W 1st Ave Come meet writers Elizabeth (Betsy) Aoki and Elaine Cockrell whose work illuminates and celebrates the Japanese American experience. Betsy is a poet, fiction writer, and game designer whose award-winning first collection Breakpoint combines lyrical free verse with found “code poems” to explore the technological and societal landscape. Betsy infuses both her Japanese heritage and her love for tech into her poetry which takes readers on a powerful journey through Japanese folklore, family stories, and internment camps using modern and magical imagery. Through exhaustive research and her own family stories, Elaine Cockrell’s historical novel A Shrug of the Shoulders paints a vivid picture of the forced internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Through multiple points of view and dozens of vivid settings, author Elaine Cockrell creates a mosaic of Japanese-American perseverance: one tiled with humor, frustration, despair, anger, and love. EWU Get Lit! presents this cross-genre event in collaboration with the sponsorship of the Spokane Chapter JACL. To attend this event, you must purchase a Book Fair & Events Pass which covers entry into the two-day Book Fair and all 17 events taking place at the Montvale Event Center. Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 20th at 8am.  source: Pacific Citizen
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project in south central Idaho, which would threaten the future of the Minidoka Pilgrimage, has been released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The public comment period will end on April 20, 2023. For more information on how to get involved, please visit the following links: Call to Action: https://www.minidokapilgrimage.org/call-to-action Latest updates on the Lava Ridge Project: https://www.minidokapilgrimage.org/issue-lava-ridge-wind-project Links to news media: https://www.minidokapilgrimage.org/media 
source: Pacific Citizen
In observance of the 2023 Day of Remembrance, the FDR Presidential Library and Museum presented a conversation with author Bradford Pearson, author of “The Eagles of Heart Mountain: A True Story of Football, Incarceration and Resistance in World War II America.” “One of Ten Best History Books of 2021.” —Smithsonian Magazine For fans of The Boys in the Boat and The Storm on Our Shores, this impeccably researched, deeply moving, never-before-told “tale that ultimately stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit” (Garrett M. Graff, New York Times bestselling author) about a World War II incarceration camp in Wyoming and its extraordinary high school football team. More information on the book can be found here at Simon & Schuster.
sources: Pacific Citizen, Spectrum News Hawaii, Maui Now
The U.S. Mint announced five women who will be featured on next year’s quarters, including the late Patsy Takemoto Mink, who was the first woman of color to serve in Congress. Mink was a third-generation Japanese-American, who was born and raised on Maui. She served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years. The late U.S. Representative is remembered for passing Title IX, which was later renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. The law prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives federal funding from the government. In 2021, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the U.S. Mint to include Mink, as well as the late Edith Kanakaʻole, a Native Hawaiian hula teacher, who is featured on this year’s quarters. “Patsy Mink was a champion for social justice, equality, and civil rights — she was a trailblazer in every sense of the word,” said Hirono in a release. “As the first woman of color to serve in Congress and a lead author of Title IX, Congresswoman Mink worked to ensure that all women in our country have every opportunity men have.” The 2024 American Women Quarters will be released in mid-2023. The U.S. Mint is releasing five new quarters featuring women each year, starting in 2022 through 2025. The U.S. Mint said the other women featured on next year’s new quarters are Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War era surgeon, women’s rights advocate and abolitionist; Pauli Murray, a poet, writer, lawyer, Episcopal priest, and advocate for civil rights; Zitkala-Ša, a writer, composer, educator, and political activist for Native Americans’ rights; and Celia Cruz, a Cuban-American singer who was known as “the Queen of Salsa.” “All of the women being honored have lived remarkable and multi-faceted lives, and have made a significant impact on our Nation in their own unique way,” said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson, in a release. “By honoring these pioneering women, the Mint continues to connect America through coins which are like small works of art in your pocket.”  source: The Rafu Shimpo (Los Angeles)
The U.S. Postal Service will stop selling the Go For Broke Japanese American Soldiers of World War II commemorative postage stamp sometime this year. The remaining inventory will be destroyed, postal sources recently shared with the Stamp Our Story Committee, the community group that led the 15-year campaign for the stamp. All commemorative stamps are printed in limited quantities and sold for a limited time, typically one to two years. This coming June will mark two years since the Go For Broke Soldiers Stamp was first issued in Los Angeles on June 3, 2021. “We strongly encourage interested individuals and organizations to buy up the remaining Go For Broke Stamps — let ’s sell out the stamp!” said Wayne Osako, chair of the Stamp Our Story Committee. “This is a wonderful way to show your support for the Nisei soldiers’ legacy, and to send a message to Washington that more stories like ours ought to be shared.” The committee hopes that the success of the stamp will lead to a future Sen. Daniel Inouye commemorative stamp and others featuring AAPI subjects. There is an ongoing community effort for a Inouye stamp proposal, currently under consideration at the USPS. Inouye, a decorated World War II veteran who lost an arm in combat, represented Hawaii in the U.S. Senate from 1963 until his death in 2012. “We would love for people in the community to buy the stamps, particularly those whose loved ones and friends are Nisei soldiers,” Osako said. “Once the stamps are gone, they are gone — the Postal Service does not reprint nor reissue commemorative stamps.” The USPS has not announced when it will cease selling the stamp. Once the Postal Service stops selling them, the stamp resellers will sell some but raise prices. Anyone can buy the stamp, and legally resell them later at their own price. They can also be resold as part of fundraising. To continue to raise awareness of the Nisei soldiers’ legacy this year and beyond, the Stamp Our Story Committee is releasing a short documentary film about the story behind the stamp. The 18-minute film, titled “Stamp Our Story: Honoring America’s Nisei Veterans,” will show at various film festivals. The Films of Remembrance and DisOrient film festivals both recently announced that the documentary will be among their featured films this year. The committee is also urging people to keep sending letters to the USPS and to their congressional lawmakers asking them to issue the Inouye stamp. For more information please visit Stamp Our Story. Yesterday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a joint resolution (AJR98) designating January 30 of each year as “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in New Jersey.” JACL applauds New Jersey for becoming the newest state to honor Korematsu Day in perpetuity. Read the Full Press Release Here.
source: takano.house.gov
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after introducing a bicameral package of bills honoring civil rights icon Fred Korematsu on the anniversary of his birthday. A biography of Fred Korematsu can be found here. “Fred Korematsu stood up for the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly relocated and interned during World War II. A fierce advocate for justice and a civil rights icon, his legacy reminds us that we must continue to protect the basic human rights of all marginalized groups to ensure such atrocities don’t happen again. Fred Korematsu continues to be an inspiration to me and every person who is fighting to make a more inclusive and kinder America for all,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “My family was among the many who were interned, and so I am proud to reintroduce legislation with Rep. Jill Tokuda, Senator Mazie Hirono, and Senator Tammy Duckworth to recognize Mr. Korematsu’s extraordinary heroism and bravery. It is long overdue to honor his contributions to the fight for a more equitable America.” “At a time of extreme personal peril, Fred Korematsu stood up for over 120,000 Japanese people forcibly relocated and interned during World War II. He went on to spend his life fighting for justice and equality, ensuring that this shameful episode in our nation’s history would never be forgotten and bettering our nation as a whole,” said Representative Jill Tokuda. “As the great-granddaughter of someone who was sent to internment camps, Korematsu’s work is especially meaningful. He is recognized as a hero in Hawaiʻi, and I am honored to join my colleagues in introducing these three bills to commemorate his legacy.” “A champion for civil rights, Fred Korematsu spent his life fighting for justice and equality,” said Senator Hirono. “Since 2013, Hawaii has recognized January 30th as Fred Korematsu day, joining several other states in honoring Mr. Korematsu for his bravery and commitment to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. His legacy serves as an important reminder that we all have a responsibility to stand up for what’s right. I am proud to join my colleagues once again in recognizing Mr. Korematsu for his dedication to justice and building on his work to defend our fundamental civil liberties.” “Our nation must never forget or repeat the horrors thousands of innocent Japanese Americans experienced as prisoners within our own borders,” said Senator Duckworth. “The disturbing spike in hate crimes, violence and bigotry targeting the AANHPI community are a grave reminder of our responsibility to take action to prevent such a national travesty from ever happening again. I’m proud to introduce this legislative package with Senator Hirono and Representatives Takano and Tokuda to reaffirm our commitment to upholding constitutional principles and safeguarding civil liberties, to honor Fred Korematsu on his 104th birthday.” “Congressman Mark Takano’s leadership role in “recognizing the importance of establishing a national “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” on January 30 is commendable, as this day encourages “civic education” and participation. My father was one man who made a difference in the face of adversity for all Americans and so can the members of the U.S. Congress,” said Dr. Karen Korematsu, Founder and Executive Director of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute. “I hope they will be inspired by Fred Korematsu’s words, “Stand Up for What is Right.” This is about all of us!” The bills in this package are:
This legislative package is endorsed by the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, Demand Progress, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American National Museum, NAACP, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, DENSHO, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Heart Wyoming Foundation, National Asian American Pacific Bar Association, Anti-Defamation League, and Human Rights Campaign. A full list of endorsing organizations can be here. source: jacl.org  Follow this link or click on the above picture to participate.
Note from Spokane JACL: Allow for 20-30 minutes per module. This program does collect the user's email address, but there is an option (before signing up) to opt out of additional data collection. If you have any other questions about the process, please refer to their FAQ section which we've found to be helpful and straightforward. source: jacl.org  From Friends of Minidoka:
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project in south-central Idaho was released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on January 17, 2023, and sent to the EPA for approval. It was published in the Federal Register on January 20. The public comment period started Friday, January 20, and will end at 11:59 pm MDT on March 21, 2023. For more information about the Lava Ridge proposal, see additional posts on the Friends of Minidoka site linked below.
Visit the Friends of Minidoka Page on Lava Ridge Here |
