The JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States. The Chicago Chapter was established in 1945.
Founded in 1929, the JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States. The JACL monitors and responds to issues that enhance or threaten the civil and human rights of all Americans and implements strategies to effect positive social change, particularly to the Asian Pacific American community.
The Chicago Chapter's Inception
On January 1, 1943, National JACL established the JACL Midwest Regional Office by leasing a space on the 9th floor of 189 West Madison in the Loop. The office served to provide information and assistance to Japanese Americans either considering or already coping with relocation to Chicago. Dr. Thomas Yatabe, the first elected JACL National President, was asked to run the office upon his release from Jerome, Arkansas internment camp.
Dr. Yatabe was committed to the idea that the growing Chicago Japanese American community needed a JACL chapter to represent its long-term interests. Meetings to discuss chapter formation began in the summer of 1943 at such locations as the International House at the University of Chicago, and were attended by the nucleus of what later became the 25 charter members required to form a chapter. Along with Bill Minami (who had been asked by Dr. Yatabe to eventually be the Chapter’s first president), George Hiura, William Hiura, Noboru Honda, Dixie Ishida, Togo Tanaka, and Kumeo Yoshinari were prominent among those 25 individuals. Chicago became the first JACL chapter of the Midwest after receiving its charter on April 15, 1945.
The JACL Midwest Office has continued to work closely with the Chicago Chapter by providing guidance and assistance in implementing national JACL programs in the Chicago area. JACL’s Midwest Directors have been Richard Akagi, Tats Kushida, Tom Hibino and William Yoshino, who has held the position since 1978.
The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry.
