Media Advisory

Justice For Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)

October 14, 2008

JFAV Oct.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 from San Francisco State University and SF Community College (SFCC) 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. They also protested the racist actions of the US Congress in excluding the Filipinos in the SB 1315.

Earlier ACFV leaders and veterans met with Senator Burr in North Carolina to persuade him not to oppose the conference committee in the US Congress. There were also protest rallies in San Diego,Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC from Sept 22 to Oct. 9.

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.

The JFAV efforts will focused on the US Senate to call the joint committee conference to pass the veterans benefits bill during its session.

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 Mike Nailat at 213-3821819 or email at jfav_causa@yahoo.com or check out blogspot at alliancephilippines,blogspot,com and myspace.com jfavla.

In San Francisco,more than 50 JFAV-San Francisco and veterans and student from San Francisco State University and SF Community College (SFCC) 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. They also protested the racist actions of the US Congress in excluding the Filipinos in the SB 1315.

Earlier ACFV leaders and veterans met with Senator Burr in North Carolina to persuade him not to oppose the conference committee in the US Congress. There were also protest rallies in San Diego,Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC from Sept 22 to Oct. 9.