AJLPP Statement
Veterans Day, 2008
Fight Racism and Discrimination!
Recognize the Filipino American Veterans as American
Veterans, Now!
The US Congress passes SB 1315 Veterans Echancement Act but excluded the remaining 18,000 Filipino World War II veterans. This is 2nd recession act (the first passed as a rider in 1946) in tne 21st century. A blatant act of racism and discrimination.
Some says we should abolish affirmative action because Americans elected Barack Obama as president. But this is not true. The fact tht racism is still alive in the case of Filipino American Veterans. Many of them became naturalized American citizens but still treated as second class American citizens because they are not recognized as American veterans although they fought as American nationals during World War II.
In fact, they were conscripted into the military service when the Philippine army and constabulary and later 200,000 FIlipinos fought as guerillas under the American flag from
1941-45.It isnot fiction but a fact that America promised them citizenship and the benefits under the G.I bill. But later recinded under the 1946 recission act.
The Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) fully and strongly supports the Justice for Filipino American
Veterans(JFAV)-salutes and commends its 10 years of strong unfliching and militat advocacy for the Filipino Veterans (JFAV)
AJLPP is aware that JFAV was formed by People's CORE in 1998 to carry on the work of the December 7th Movdement(D7M) that led the first political demonstration of the Filipino
Veterans in Los Angeles in December 1993.
The AJLPP therefore commends People's CORE and everyone in the Filipino American community for never letting up its advocacy. Despite division in tactics, we are united and one
in fighting for the democratic rightds of our veterans and the community.
The core of the veterans movement then was strong with 36,000 Filipino veterans from the Philippines who came to the United Statesm from 1991-1993. But now there are less
than 18,000 living veterans both in the Philippines and in the United States but still the United States wont recognize nor give them the benefits they deserve.
The AJLPP salutes the Filipino American youth and community who now are carrying the torch for the remaining veterans. It is just right for JFAV to fight for recognition, highlight the contributing of the Filipinos to the victory of World War II in the Pacific and Southeast Asia and democracy.
It is your educative and militant advocacy that will carry the struggle to victory. Intergenerational mentroring and cultural work is needed to educate the American public of
the valor and heroism of the Filipino American World War II veterans and the need for them to regain their honor and dignity deneid to them and their community.
Fight for recognition, justice and equity!
Full benefits for Filipino veterans now!
