JACL - Pacific Southwest District

JACL MISSION STATEMENT
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 prejudice. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.

JACL HISTORY
Founded in 1929, the JACL currently has 110 chapters in 25 states including Washington, D.C. and Japan.

There are regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. There is also a legislative office in Washington, D.C. and the Pacific Citizen, the publication of the JACL, operates out of Los Angeles.

The JACL prides itself for being at the forefront of civil rights issues. The organization was instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1988, whereby the Japanese Americans that were forcibly removed from their homes during WWII, were entitled to $20,000 and an apology from the government.

Today the JACL continues to fight for the civil rights of not only Japanese Americans, but all Americans. Issues facing the community today continue to be racial profiling and the Ehren Watada case.

Within the Pacific Southwest District (PSW) there are 32 chapters that represent the district. The PSW region covers the southwest region of the U.S, westward to the Pacific Ocean, south to the Mexican border, east to Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada and to the north as far as San Luis Obispo. The PSW regional office is located in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles.