Asian American WWII veterans hold discussion on injustices, internment

By Laura Rico

Daily Bruin Contributor

The experiences of Pilipino war veterans and Japanese Latin
Americans during World War II were the topics of Wednesday
night’s Community Justice forum held at the Kerckhoff Art
Gallery.

Pepe Baclig was among the 200,000 Pilipino men and women who
fought during WWII in compliance with an executive order calling
Pilipinos into active service for the U.S. government.

But, as a result of the Rescission Act of 1946, these veterans
were denied the “rights, privileges and benefits”
granted to soldiers from other allied countries who fought for the
US. Baclig said he now refuses to be compliant, despite the passage
of time.

“I have a pacemaker, I’ve had open heart surgery.
Because the Lord saved me from death, I believe there is something
he still wants me to do, and that is to get justice,” Baclig
said.

Representatives from the Justice for Filipino American Veterans
Campaign and Campaign for Justice: Redress Now for Japanese Latin
American Internees (CFJ) were present with the goal of educating
the UCLA community on the need for compensatory legislation for
Pilipino veterans and Japanese Latin Americans who were denied
benefits and rights as a result of the war.

Mariko J. Nakanishi, a member of CFJ, said she could identify
with the struggles of the Japanese Latin American community as a
result of her own families experiences during WWII.

“My grandmother and grandfather were interned in Mexico
during the war, and they lost everything they had. That really
brought to light to me the crimes that occurred during WWII, and
how much the governments are really going to be accountable for
their wartime actions,” she said.

Nakanishi and other CFJ members are working toward raising
awareness about the 2,000 Japanese Latin Americans who were
kidnapped from their respective countries and placed in internment
camps in the United States. CFJ advocates the inclusion of Japanese
Latin Americans with the 81,000 Japanese Americans who were offered
monetary redress with the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of
1988.

Wednesday’s event was sponsored by Samahang Pilipino and
the Nikkei Student Union. It is part of a two-week long multi-media
exhibit titled “A.P. “˜Eyes’-Reflection on Youth:
Past, Present and Future. The event is being hosted by Concerned
Asian Pacific Students for Action.

CAPSA member Melissa Generoso emphasized the importance of
building coalitions between campus and community groups.

“This year we have seen a phenomenal growth in our
programs, because of student groups and community group
co-sponsoring. It is definitely fundamental to build unity,
building coalitions and bring people together,” Generoso
said.

“The strongest and most powerful experience for student
activists is to engage in community campaigns,” she
continued.

Baclig agreed with Generoso’s sentiments.

“I feel greatly indebted to the youth for the success of
this movement,” he said.