Advancing inclusion and belonging for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities is critical to guaranteeing the safety and security of the American people. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric has put Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons, families, communities, and businesses at risk.
The Federal Government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin. Such statements have stoked unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to increasing rates of bullying, harassment, and hate crimes against AAPI persons. These actions defied the best practices and guidelines of public health officials and have caused significant harm to AAPI families and communities that must be addressed.
David Inoue, Executive Director dinoue@jacl.org and Sarah Baker, VP Public Affairs sbaker@jacl.org.
Today we have seen the culmination of months of seditious rhetoric from the President and his supporters. For too long white supremacy and hate have gone unchecked in our nation; there can be no other word for what has happened today with the storming of the Capitol than treason. These heinous acts, encouraged and supported by our President, should not go unpunished – Congress must immediately begin the process of impeachment and removal of the President of the United States for acts of sedition.
On this day, Congress was supposed to certify the electoral college votes, confirming President-Elect Biden as the next President of the United States. Instead, right-wing terrorists desecrated the Capitol with violence and menacing intent. Law enforcement was not prepared for this situation and their restraint today is in stark contrast to the abhorrent treatment of Black Lives Matter protestors during the summer. What we have seen today at our Nation?s Capitol is not only an affront to our democracy, but it sends a clear message to our fellow Americans and the rest of the world that the United States truly does not value Black lives. This is the epitome of white privilege.
JACL emphasizes the importance and the power of words and calls upon the media to report on the situation accurately. These are not protestors; these are violent white supremacist terrorists. To refer to them as protestors denigrates those who engage in legitimate peaceful protest. Social media networks must also crack down on hate groups that have been using these outlets to openly plan the violent acts that have unfolded today.
The December issue of the Portland JACL newsletter was mailed on December 1. Unfortunately people have just been getting the newsletter on December 28. We are still mailing paper newsletters this month so this was not the official start of our e-newletter. Don’t forget to let us know if you would like to continue to receive the newsletter in the mail with a suggested annual donation of $25 to cover the cost of printing and mailing. You can let us know at PO Box 86310; Portland, Or 97286 or you can go to “Contact Us” on this website.
Everyday for the month of January, the activity scheduled for the day will be available on the Mochitsuki website at mochipdx.org. You can access the video anytime after it is posted. Our only live program will be the music and panel discussion with Elena Moon Park on January 31st at 1 p.m.
January
1 Hatsumode Shrine/Temple Vist by Konko Church and Henjyogi Temple
2 Koto Performance by Oregon Koto Kai
3 New Year’s Card Making by Japanese Women Portland
4 Organic New Onion and Potato Miso Soup from Scratch by Chef Nakao
5 How to Play Go by Portland Go Club
6 Trivia Game: Oshogatsu-Japanese New Year by PSU Institute for Asian Studies
7 Ikebana Flower Arrangement by Ikebana International-Portland Chapter
8 How to Celebrate New Year in Japan by Portland Kimono club
9 Storytelling by Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo
10 Why MOCHI for the New Year? by Takohachi
11 How to Make a 5-Minute Microwave Mochi by Cooking with Mazzy
12 Hariko: Japanese Head Bobber Toys by Lynn Geis
13 Trivia Game: OSECHI-Japanese New Year’s Food by PSU-Institute for Asian Studies
14 Way of the Staff by Rose City Shindokai
15 Tea Ceremony by Nikkei Fujinkai
16 Story Reading: “Thank You Very Mochi” by Paul Matsushima
17 Kids Practice Calligraphy by SORA shodo
18 Ways to Eat Mochi by Konko Church
19 Origami: How to Fold a Kagami Mochi
20 Trivia Game: MOCHI by PSU-Institute of Asian Studies
21 Oshushishushishushi and Okinawa Elsa Fold Dance by International School
22 How to Choose and Cook Tasty Rice by Consular Office of Japan in Portland
23 Taiko Performance by Portland Taiko
24 Children’s Flower Arranging by Wild Children’s Flowers
25 Gyoza (dumplings) by Cooking with Mazzy
26 Sapporo Snow Festival by Portland Sapporo Sister City Association
27 Trivia Game: What is Mochitsuki? by PSU-Institute for Asian Studies
28 Mochi and Art by Japanese American Museum of Oregon
29 Large Brush Calligraphy by SORA shodo
30 Mochi Pounding by Utsukikai
31 History of Portland Mochitsuki
Live musical performance and panel discussion with Elena Moon Park at 1 p.m.
Elena Moon Park is a classical trained musician, educator, and producer. She is co-Artistic Director of the Brooklyn-based arts organization Found Sound Nation, which uses collaborative music creation to connect people. She has found that working collaboratively is an effective way to tap the hidden potential of our communities and supports social justice.
Elena was born East Tennessee but both of her parents immigrated to the United States from South Korea in their mid-twenties. As a Korean American, she had a limited connection to her cultural background since she lived in a small southern town with few Asian Americans. She felt disconnected from her Korean roots and has used folk music to explore her own story and ancestral heritage.
Elena will present special New Year?s and Japanese songs for this year?s Mochitsuki event on January 31 at 1pm. Please join us for this live virtual event on the Mochitsuki website.
David Inoue, Executive Director dinoue@jacl.org, 202-607-7273
Sarah Baker, VP Public Affairs sbaker@jacl.org
In an announcement made on August 3, the Census Bureau discussed the remaining schedule for the 2020 Census, briefly mentioning that it would cut short its deadline to end census counting. This new deadline brings the end of Census outreach and self-response from October 31, 2020, to September 30, 2020, a month shorter than previously agreed upon by both Congress and the Administration. This is an egregious decision that will leave millions of people uncounted and is a further continuation of the Administration?s attempt to undermine the Census.
This is only the latest in several past attempts by the Administration to change the way in which the Census will consider counting people. The first attempt was the inclusion of a citizenship question that many feared would be used against undocumented immigrants. After the Supreme Court ruled against the inclusion of such a question, the Administration announced a Presidential Memorandum proposing to exclude undocumented immigrants as people in congressional redistricting. The pandemic has already made it difficult to get an accurate count; these additional attempts to change guidelines and rules makes it even harder.
With so much at stake for underrepresented communities, and especially as we cope with COVID-19, an accurate Census count is more important than ever. Currently, the response numbers are already the lowest they?ve ever been, with a national average of only 62.9%, compared to 63.5% in 2010. In rural and tribal communities the numbers are even lower, and in large cities with high populations of communities of color, they are lower still. Census enumerators will have more communities and households to visit than before. With in-person outreach being so important to disenfranchised communities, an earlier end date means millions of people who are at risk of never being counted.
Congress must act to ensure that the 2020 Census reflects an accurate count and portrait of all of America, to ensure that communities that need support receive it over the next decade. This would be important at any given time, but even more so now as we envision our country and its needs with the long-term effects of this pandemic.
There are fewer than 100 days until the 2020 Presidential Election and with the mournful passing of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, we wanted to begin our efforts for voter engagement with Representative Lewis? own words?
“My dear friends: Your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union.?
United States House of Representatives / Public domain
This champion of our voting rights compels every eligible voter to register and then vote in this upcoming election. You can check here to see if you are registered. You can update your voter information from this section of the Oregon Secretary of State website, as well.
Please join The League of Women Voters in partnership with Portland JACL at a virtual community meeting on October 10. The League of Women Voters will be providing information on the various measures on the November 2020 ballot (more information to follow).
The deadline to register to vote in the 2020 Presidential Election is October 13. Register to Vote online.
It is our civic duty to vote. Congressman Lewis? legacy demands no less!
JACL joins SEARAC, Other AAPI Orgs in Denouncing Use of Federal Agents in Portland?
July 28, 2020
Japanese American Citizens League Executive Director David Inoue said, ?We denounce the mobilization of federal agents in Portland, and now other cities, under the false pretense to address urban violence and crime. Our federal agents should not be used as political props to antagonize cities because the president does not like the mayor?s political party. The president is unnecessarily placing the lives of both the officers and civilians at risk through these incursions worthy of the world?s worst dictatorships.?
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to fill out the 2020 census! Census takers will soon start going door-to-door across the country to interview homes that haven?t responded yet.
Things to know:
Completing the census helps your household and community get its fair share of funding for important government services such as food assistance, maternal healthcare, LGBTQA+ youth programs, and affordable housing. The community makeup information from the census helps enforce anti-discrimination laws like the Voting Rights Act. It also ensures fair representation in government. Oregon stands to gain a Congressional seat as a result of this census.
It’s confidential. It’s your right to participate and when you do, federal law keeps your responses confidential for 72 years.
Be sure to count everyone living at your address on April 1, 2020. The constitution says the census counts everyone living in the United States — that includes young children, undocumented immigrants and their families.
Sato Elementary School opened in September 2017. The Bethany community was asked to submit names for the new Beaverton school and the overwhelming choice was to recognize the Japanese American family who began farming in the area in 1926.
Marleen Wallingford, Karen Sato and Ron Iwasaki at the Sato School dedication of the history of the Sato Family placed at the front of the school.
During World War II, the Sato Family was sent to Minidoka. Two sons, Shin and Roy, enlisted. Roy was wounded twice and received the Purple Heart. Shin was also a member of the Japanese American 442 Regimental Combat Team that took part in the heroic battle to save the Texas Battalion that was trapped in the treacherous Vosges Mountains. Nisei soldiers were able to overcome the German defenses. Shin posthumously received the Purple Heart as a result of that battle.
Karen Sato continues to remember her family. Her sister, Lois who passed away in 2013 was the last family member to live on the farm.
When Col. Mike Howard who lives in the area heard the story of the Sato Family, he wanted to make sure the community understood the historical significance of the heroism of Shin and the sacrifice the family suffered. He worked with the school?s principal, Annie Pleau to obtain Beaverton School District?s permission to place the plaque.
I was saddened when I first visited Sato School and there was no memorial. History is a fragile thing and I wanted the kids to know the truth ? good and bad, so they can learn from it.
Col. Howard
It was a labor of love for Col. Howard. He grew up living next to the Shimotani Family in Ventura, California. This is where he first heard of the 442 and saw the film, ?Go For Broke?. ?I was saddened when I first visited Sato School and there was no memorial. History is a fragile thing and I wanted the kids to know the truth … good and bad, so they can learn from it.?
The bronze plaque was produced at a costof $6200. Skanska Construction donated the concrete base and backing at a value of$6200. Bethany Presbyterian Church had donated $3000 but funding still needs to be raised to cover the rest of the cost. The Portland JACL is helping with that effort.
