Japanese American Citizens League facts for kids

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Japanese American Citizens League

JACL's San Francisco headquarters in 2021
Founded	1929; 96 years ago (1929)
Type	501(c)(3) charitable organization
Focus	Asian American civil rights
Headquarters	San Francisco, United States
Location	United States

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is a group that works for civil rights and fairness for all Americans. It focuses especially on the Asian Pacific American community. The JACL has its main office in San Francisco. It also has many local groups, called chapters, all over the United States.

The JACL says it is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights group in the U.S. It started in 1929. It was formed by joining together several groups of Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) in California and Washington state.

In its early years, the JACL worked to change laws. They wanted to expand the citizenship rights of Japanese Americans. Local chapters also held meetings to encourage Nisei to get involved in politics. During World War II, the JACL faced criticism. Some people felt they did not do enough to stop the forced relocation of Japanese Americans. They also helped U.S. agencies identify some Japanese Americans. The JACL also took a strong stand against those who refused to join the army from the camps. These actions are still a topic of discussion within the Japanese American community today.

After the war, the JACL focused again on civil rights. They worked with Congress and filed lawsuits. Their goal was to change or get rid of laws that were unfair. These laws included rules about marriage between different races. They also fought against unfair separation of people and limits on who could become a citizen. In the 1970s, the JACL joined the movement for justice for the wartime camps. The JACL's efforts helped pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This law officially said the camps were wrong. It also gave payments to those who were affected. In 2002, a younger group of JACL leaders apologized. They said sorry for how the organization treated Nisei who refused to be drafted during the war.

Today, the JACL has over 100 chapters across the U.S. Most are in big cities. These chapters are grouped into seven district councils. A board of elected officials guides the organization.

JACL's Story: A Look Back
JACL Programs
National Convention
- History of the National Convention
- 2013 National Convention
JACL Locations
Notable JACL Members
See Also

JACL's Story: A Look Back

How the JACL Began (1929–1941)

In 1929, several Nisei groups came together to form the JACL. Important groups included the American Loyalty League from Fresno. There was also the Seattle Progressive Citizens League. The New American Citizens League from San Francisco was another key group. The JACL wanted to support business and self-reliance. They also wanted to show loyalty to the United States. Because of this, they did not use a hyphen in their name.

The JACL held its first national meeting in Seattle in 1930. Soon after, they began working to expand rights for Japanese and other Asian Americans. At that time, many Asian immigrants could not become U.S. citizens. The JACL first targeted the Cable Act of 1922. This law took away citizenship from women who married men who could not become citizens. After working hard, Congress changed the law in 1931. Next, the JACL worked to allow Japanese and other Asian American veterans of World War I to become citizens. In 1935, the Nye-Lea Act gave these men citizenship rights.

World War II and the Camps (1941–1945)

After the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested many Japanese American community leaders. These were often teachers, priests, and business owners. JACL members spoke at government hearings. They wanted to show that Nisei were loyal Americans. This was to fight rumors that Japanese Americans were secretly working against the U.S. At the same time, the JACL helped the FBI and Naval Intelligence. They helped identify some Japanese Americans who might be seen as disloyal. Many Japanese Americans felt this action tried to protect some people at the cost of others.

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, the JACL leaders did not question it. This order forced Japanese Americans from the West Coast. The JACL believed it was better to follow government orders. They told the 120,000 affected people to go peacefully. They also kept their distance from those who fought against the order. After the war, a civil rights lawyer named Wayne M. Collins criticized the JACL. He said they "wouldn't stand up for their people." He felt they led their people "to the concentration camps."

During the war, the JACL tried to help Japanese Americans. They helped those who moved outside the camps. They gave loans and opened offices in Chicago. These offices helped families settle in the Midwest. The organization also argued that Japanese Americans should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military. In Hawaii, where the JACL did not exist then, many leaders also supported this idea. This led to the creation of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regiment Combat Team.

Fighting for Justice (1945–1988)

After the war, the JACL started working on laws to gain rights for Japanese Americans. They worked to repeal California's Alien Land Law. This law stopped Japanese immigrants from buying land in the state. In 1948, the JACL helped pass the Evacuation Claims Act. This was the first step to fix the wrongs of the wartime camps. In 1949, the JACL began efforts in Congress. They wanted Japanese immigrants to be able to become naturalized citizens of the U.S.

In 1970, the JACL supported a plan to ask Congress for money. They wanted to pay each camp survivor for every day they were held. Later, in 1979, the JACL suggested creating a federal commission. This group would investigate the wartime camps. The next year, the JACL helped pass a bill in Congress. This bill created the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC). In 1983, the CWRIC said the government should apologize and pay survivors. This happened with the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.

After the Redress (1988–Present)

In 1994, the JACL passed a resolution. It said they supported the human right to marry, including for same-sex couples. In 2012, the JACL was the first national civil rights group to publicly support this. They praised President Barack Obama for his support of same-sex marriage.

Since 2022, the JACL has supported the idea of reparations for slavery. They have asked the Biden administration to study federal reparations for African Americans. JACL representatives have also spoken in favor of creating the Philadelphia Reparations Task Force.

JACL Programs

Bridging Communities Program

The Bridging Communities Program brings together young people. It connects youth from the Japanese and Asian American community with Muslim and Arab American youth. High school students attend workshops. They learn about identity, community, culture, and how to make a difference. The program includes visits to former Japanese American concentration camps. These include Tule Lake, Manzanar, and Minidoka National Historic Site. The National Park Service helps fund this program.

JACL/OCA Leadership Summit

This is a three-day yearly training event for leaders. The JACL organizes it with OCA National (formerly the Organization of Chinese Americans). Workshops cover topics like how to build strong groups and how to lobby successfully.

Youth Leadership Summit

The JACL's Youth Leadership Summit started in 2010. It has been held every year in cities like Chicago, Portland, and Washington DC.

Scholarships for Students

The JACL started a National Scholarship and Awards Program in 1946. It offers scholarships to students at different levels. These include high school graduates, college students, and those in graduate or law school. There are also scholarships for students with financial need and for creative arts. All scholarships are one-time awards.

The League of Dreams Documentary

JACL National and film producer Lane Nishikawa are working on a documentary. It will cover 90 years of JACL history. Nishikawa wants the film to show the story of the JACL. The project has received grants to help fund its creation.

Anti-Hate Program

The JACL created its Anti-Hate Program because of more hate crimes against Asian Americans. This happened after COVID-19. The JACL wants to stop the use of harmful ideas about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. They watch for and fight against hate crimes and unfair treatment. Their website lists resources for people facing anti-Asian hate. It also shares information about hate crime laws.

National Convention

History of the National Convention

The first JACL National Convention took place on August 29, 1930, in Seattle, Washington. The first convention after World War II was in Denver, Colorado. At that meeting, they made a 14-point plan for rebuilding. This plan included allowing Issei to become citizens. It also called for payments for unfair treatment during the war. The plan also pushed for ending racial discrimination in housing and jobs.

2013 National Convention

The 2013 JACL National Convention was held from July 24–26, 2013, in Washington, DC. The main idea for this convention was "Justice for All."

JACL Locations

As of 2022, the JACL's main office is in San Francisco's Japantown. It is right next to the Japanese American Association of Northern California. The JACL also has an office in Washington DC. It has over 100 chapters in the U.S. These chapters are part of seven district councils.

The JACL did not have a chapter in Hawaii during and after World War II. A chapter was finally started there in 1980.