FILIPINO VETERANS TO PROTEST APRIL 10 AT THE WESTWOOD FEDERAL BUILDING IN LA

Media Advisory

April 3, 2008

Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)

Contact: Arturo P. Garcia

(213)241-0995

email- jfav_causa@yahoo.com

FILIPINO VETERANS TO PROTEST APRIL 10 AT THE WESTWOOD FEDERAL BUILDING IN LA;

Los Angeles- Money for Filipino Veterans, Not for the War! ;

The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) with the Alliance Philippines (AJLPP ) and Samahang Pilipino at UCLA will mark the 66th Fall of Bataan Day with a protest rally for equity and justice on April 10, 2008 at 5: 00 PM at the West wood Federal Building at the corner of Veteran and Wilshire Streets.

The JFAV will mark the 66th Fall of Bataan with a protest action calling for the passage of the much awaited equity bill and the family reunification act bill lagging at the U.S. Congress. On April 9, 1942, the US forces surrendered Bataan and that led to the three year Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

The president of the United States promised to compensate for the Philippines war losses and the veterans their benefits but after the war, on February 18, 1946, the 79th US Congress passed the infamous Rescission Act that removed the recognition to 250,000 Filipino American veterans who served during the Second World War. This is tantamount to systemic racism and racial discrmination

JFAV and the AJLPP is calling for the passage of equity bill and the family reunification bill in the US Congress. The family reunification bill seeks 20,000 visas for veterans families. On the other hand the equity bill seeks to correct the inequities in pensions and benefits for both Filipinos in the U.S. and the Philippines.

Of the 250,000 veterans, only 18,000 of them were reported still alive in the Philippines and the United States .

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT AL GARCIA AT: (213) 241-0995 at jfav_causa@yahoo.com