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SMITHSONIAN Thousands of American citizens of Japanese descent were rounded up an incarcerated because of Executive Order 9066. |
On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which gave the US Army the authority to remove civilians from the military zones established in Washington, Oregon, and California during WWII. This led to the forced removal and incarceration of some 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast, who had to abandon their jobs, their homes, and their lives to be sent to one of ten concentration camps scattered in desolate, remote regions of the country.
No Japanese Americans were ever charged, much less convicted, of espionage or sabotage against the United States. Yet they were targeted, rounded up, and imprisoned for years, simply for having the “face of the enemy.”
FYI: For a list of events and observances around the nation fo the 82nd Day of Remembrance, click here.
“Executive Order 9066 (is) an unconstitutional and discriminatory policy born out of prejudice led to the unjust internment of Japanese Americans in incarceration camps," says Senator Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii.
"Now, diversity is under attack with over a dozen states enacting laws targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion—from limiting curriculum of diverse histories to restricting LGBTQ+ youth from accessing health care or playing sports aligned with their gender."
Every February, the Japanese American community commemorates Executive Order 9066 as a reminder of the impact the incarceration experience has had on our families, our community, and our country. It is an opportunity to educate others on the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis, and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all.
“A day of remembrance is a day to atone for our country's wrongs. Japanese internment is an episode in American history that highlighted a failure in leadership to uphold the Constitution," says Rep. Mark Takano, D-CA. "My family lost land, upward mobility, and their dignity to race-based fear -- we cannot allow that to happen again. Join me in remembering this injustice while recommitting ourselves to uphold our country's founding principle of justice for all.”
The family of Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, was among the thousands rounded up and incarcerated because of Executive ORder 1066.
“Although it has been 82 years since President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, families continue to bear scars from the xenophobia and hate that stripped 120,000 people of Japanese descent of everything from the most basic human rights to homes and life savings," says the fresman lawmaker. "As one of millions of descendants of internees, on this Day of Remembrance, I ask that we act with urgency to learn from the mistakes of our past and recommit ourselves to being a nation free of intolerance and prejudice.”
The day may be forgotten by most mainstream media and barely mentioned in history textbooks, but the lessons that can be learned from that Executive Order 9066 has gained new significance in the context of today's racial tensions.
"Disturbingly,... the same hysteria that led to the racial targeting and stripping of property ownership rights from Japanese Americans has reemerged today in federal and state-level measures that aim to limit the civil rights of our communities," says Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Contressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
"This uptick in shameful, anti-Asian fear-mongering and discrimination is why now, more than ever, we must speak up in the face of injustice and ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of our past. As we observe this Day of Remembrance, we must stand together and recommit to safeguard the civil rights of all Americans.”
"Now, diversity is under attack with over a dozen states enacting laws targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion—from limiting curriculum of diverse histories to restricting LGBTQ+ youth from accessing health care or playing sports aligned with their gender."
Every February, the Japanese American community commemorates Executive Order 9066 as a reminder of the impact the incarceration experience has had on our families, our community, and our country. It is an opportunity to educate others on the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis, and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all.
“A day of remembrance is a day to atone for our country's wrongs. Japanese internment is an episode in American history that highlighted a failure in leadership to uphold the Constitution," says Rep. Mark Takano, D-CA. "My family lost land, upward mobility, and their dignity to race-based fear -- we cannot allow that to happen again. Join me in remembering this injustice while recommitting ourselves to uphold our country's founding principle of justice for all.”
The family of Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, was among the thousands rounded up and incarcerated because of Executive ORder 1066.
“Although it has been 82 years since President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, families continue to bear scars from the xenophobia and hate that stripped 120,000 people of Japanese descent of everything from the most basic human rights to homes and life savings," says the fresman lawmaker. "As one of millions of descendants of internees, on this Day of Remembrance, I ask that we act with urgency to learn from the mistakes of our past and recommit ourselves to being a nation free of intolerance and prejudice.”
The day may be forgotten by most mainstream media and barely mentioned in history textbooks, but the lessons that can be learned from that Executive Order 9066 has gained new significance in the context of today's racial tensions.
"Disturbingly,... the same hysteria that led to the racial targeting and stripping of property ownership rights from Japanese Americans has reemerged today in federal and state-level measures that aim to limit the civil rights of our communities," says Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Contressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
"This uptick in shameful, anti-Asian fear-mongering and discrimination is why now, more than ever, we must speak up in the face of injustice and ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of our past. As we observe this Day of Remembrance, we must stand together and recommit to safeguard the civil rights of all Americans.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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