 |
JACL Rejects Philip Morris Donation
By Jennifer Coleman/AP
Tobacco foes urged one of the country’s largest Asian American civil rights groups to not link their name and their history to one of the most vilified industries in the country.
The Japanese American Citizens League is a 72-year-old civil rights agency and, like many nonprofit groups, is facing the “threat of declining revenue,” said JACL member Keith Kamisugi. But Kamisugi and others say that’s no reason to take money from tobacco companies, which they say have targeted Asian Americans as potential smokers.
The JACL voted on Saturday to stop taking donations from tobacco companies, including Philip Morris Companies, Inc., at their national meeting in Los Angeles. The 18-member board didn’t make that decision lightly, said executive director John Tateishi.
“It’s a very moral question that’s being put to the board,” he said. “The tobacco industry has targeted Asian youth and minority youth, which a lot of people find objectionable, for obvious reasons.”
Kamisugi says Philip Morris “is trying to buy the reputation of organizations to buttress their public positioning.”
COMPLETE STORY... |
|
Family Seeks Bone Marrow Donor for 6-Year-Old:
Korean American Emily Kim needs more Korean Americans to register with the National Marrow Donor Program.
Thirty Years After Agent Orange:
Some Vietnamese still show extremely high dioxin levels, indicating recent contamination.
A Little Love Goes a Long Way:
Researcher promotes adjuvant treatment for breast cancer among Asian women.
Korean American Wins SK Telecom Golf Title:
Charlie Wi takes his second career victory in the Asia PGA Tour.
Virginia’s New Asian American Mix:
Indian Americans surpass Filipinos as state’s largest API group.
Taiwanese Leader Tours Big Apple:
Chen Shui-bian, president of Taiwan, defies China by visiting New York City.
Dozens of Illegal Migrants Detained Near U.S. Virgin Islands:
Officials don’t know where unidentified boat was headed.
Honolulu Gambling Suspect Booted Out of Vietnam:
Last suspect in major organized gambling ring turned over to FBI
Washington Journal:
Columnist Phil Tajitsu Nash on funding for nonprofits and community efforts. |
