See you at the Upcoming PSW Awards Dinner!
LOS ANGELES, CA, -- The Pacific Southwest District of the Japanese American Citizen’s League is proud to announce their Annual Awards Dinner to be held on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at The Grand Long Beach Event Center in Long Beach. The district will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, which was signed in to law to acknowledge the injustice and apologize to Japanese Americans who were evacuated and interned by the United States government during World War II.
The dinner will recognize the individuals who acted as advocates for the generations of Americans who rarely spoke of the injustices they had endured. Award receiptients will be Joe Allman, Michael Hide, Fred Hoshiyama, Mas Inoshita, Kenneth Inouye, Harry Kajihara, Harry Kawahara, Marleen Kawahara, Junji Kumamoti, Meriko Mori, Lillian Morizono, Phil Shigekuni, Miyo Senzaki, and Paul Tsuneishi. Headlining the evening will be Master of Ceremonies Mitchell Maki, the leading author of the award-winning Achieving the Impossible Dream: How Japanese Americans Obtained Redress, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services of California State University, Dominguez Hills, and recipient of the 2008 George Kiriyama Educations Excellence Award.
“We are very pleased to have Mr. Maki lead our event, and to help us recognize our local heroes who had this dream long before it became a reality,” said Alayne Yonemoto, Governor of the Pacific Southwest 
District. “Our honorees were the leaders in the JACL’s efforts as one of the organizations that played a key role in righting this violation of civil liberties that are guaranteed by the Constitution.”
The honorees rose from the silence of their community to right the wrong that had been committed against the Japanese American citizens and permanent resident aliens. Although they faced many obstacles, including fellow community members who, at first, did not support the redress, this group helped to overcome the challenges and gained the support that eventually lead to the passing of the Act that was signed in to law by President Ronal Reagan in 1988.
Proceeds from the dinner will help fund youth programs for the Pacific Southwest District, to ensure a better tomorrow for all Americans. Tickets are $100 for individual seats, $1,000 for a table of 10. Sponsorship packages and advertising space in the dinner program are available. For additional information, or to secure your attendance, please contact the Pacific Southwest District office at psw@jacl.com, or by calling (213) 626-4471.