Media Advisory
Justice For Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
October 13, 2008
JFAV Cot 10 Nationwide Mass Actions - A Success
Los Angeles— Bailout the Filipino Veterans, Not the Corrupt Capitalists! No Justice, No Peace.
On Friday, October 10, in Los Angeles and San Francisco,hundreds of Filipino American students, youth and veterans with their allies from AJLPP, ANSWER-LA, PCORE, SIPA,SEIU, LAANE and other groups held their rallies in front of the Federal Building in the two cities for Filipino veterans rights.
Rally Against Racism and Discrimination
The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and the Samahang Pilipino at UCLA led the more than a hundred rallyist in front of the monument to the Spanish –American War at the Westwood Federal building 11000 Wilshire, Los Angeles from 4 to 7 P.M.
JFAV Coordinator Arturo Garica said: "This monument proved that the United States occupied and colonized the Philippines from 1898 to 1946. Therefore the Filipinos were American soldiers when they fought in World War II. So nobody, and nobody can say that the Filipinos are not American soldiers. And it is unfair and unjust not to recognize them and treat them as mercenaries just what the Congress this year. "
In San Francisco,more than 50 JFAV-San Francisco and veterans and student rallied in front of the Federal Building at 450 Golden Gate Avenue in downtown.They are pushing for the convening of the conference committee to reconcile the two separate bills S 1315 and HB 68097 in Congress.
JFAV Call to Action
JFAV calls on all Filipino American organization and mainstream allies to join the JFAV final push for recognition, justice and equity for 18,000 remaining veterans, their widows and relatives.
Mike Nailat, JFAV Mass Campaign Coordinator said: “This fight is about racism and the Filipino veterans victimized by such racist laws since 1946 when the rescission act was passed. The unjust law excluded 250,000 Filipino veterans from receiving benefits and recognition that they deserved as American World War II veterans.
Again the US Congress passed SB 1315 that excluded the Filipino veterans and another house bill that excludes the widows and relatives. The insult is they give them a quit claim that will give them one time money in exchange for quitting their claim as veterans" Nailat ended.
For more information contact Al P. Garcia, JFAV Coordinator at (213)909-1419 or email at
jfav_causa@yahoo.com or check out blogspot at alliancephilippines,blogspot,com
