 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||
Redress and The Recreation Center
(A Proposal for a Little Tokyo Recreational Center in Los Angeles has been a controversial issue within the community. Though a promise from the city and supported by great majority of people, the rec center is supported and opposed by different community agencies have spoken, revealing the continuing relevance of class issues within AA communities. To see some of these opinions please go to the NCRR-LA website (the link below. - Azine ed.)
by Nikkei for Civil Rights
and Redress- LA
posted 9/19/02
The redress and reparations campaign and the current campaign
to build a recreation center in Little Tokyo on First Street North have
a lot in common. When the Rafu Shimpo surveyed the community on the question
of whether people wanted individual compensation, an overwhelming 89%
of the community responded in favor of it. Today the vast majority of
the Japanese American community favors a Rec Center in Little Tokyo and
supports a plan that can include both the Rec Center and an Art Park
on First Street North. Of course there were those who opposed redress
and said that it would never happen. There are those who oppose the Rec
Center and say it cannot be built on the same space as an art park. The
Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (formerly the National Coalition
for Redress and Reparations) fully supports a Recreation Center on First
Street North and believes that all concerns about noise, proximity to
the veterans’ monument and parking can be resolved.
GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN
It took a grassroots community-wide movement to finally win redress after an
eight year campaign. We did not get the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 passed
by waiting for the government to do the right thing. We as a community became
active participants in the democratic process and helped to educate the American
public. We insisted that all those who wanted to testify should be able to
speak at the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians in
1981. At those same hearings we insisted that Japanese translation be provided
for the lsseis and that there be an evening session at Little Tokyo Towers
so that working people could participate.
The community won redress by writing letters, gathering petitions, speaking
to any and all organizations, conducting candlelight vigils and lobbying the
United States Congress. With the sponsorship of Congressman Mervyn Dymally
we even wrote our own bill which called for $25,000 for each individual and
a community fund to help rebuild our community. In 1987, 127 ordinary folks
went to Washington D.C. and told their stories to different congress people
who eventually voted for the final redress bill. We did not get the Appropriations
Bill passed in 1989 by hoping that Congress would allocate money to really
pay individuals before more of our community had passed away (already over
half of those interned were no longer alive). We sent Ietters, telegrams and
made phone calls to our representatives and organized a Day of Protest with
over a 1,000 people in the JACCC Plaza. We learned a lot about the political
process and how a bill becomes law. We spoke up, stood up and became stronger
as a community.
Redress and the Rec Center - A Vision for Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo Community meets to discuss rec center
plans
Related Links:
Fighting for Community in Little Tokyo - 6/22/01
In Defense of Ethnic Enclaves - 9/5/01
J-Towns see Hope - 3/2/02
