Japanese American Fred Korematsu (1919–2005), a Nisei, made American legal history in 1942. With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, he fought against his government-mandated internment in a camp.
Minoru Yasui awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Obama announced on Nov. 16 that Minoru “Min” Yasui will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Minoru Yasui was a civil and human rights activist best known for his U.S. Supreme Court Case questioning the constitutionality of curfews imposed on Japanese American citizens during World War II. Cases […]
Supreme Court Justice says internment ruling could happen again
By Audrey McAvoy Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia told law students at the University of Hawaii last month that the nation’s highest court was wrong to uphold the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the court issued a similar ruling during […]
White House honors legacy of Fred Korematsu
On Jan. 30, the White House issued a statement honoring the legacy of Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American hero who stood his ground in the face of injustice.
Japanese Americans silent no more, talk about internment
Japanese American Lillia Uri Matsuda (née Satow) was interned when she was a nursing student at Seattle University (SU) in 1942.
Editorial: There’s another cause for celebration: Fred Korematsu Day
Last year, on Sept. 20, California designated Jan. 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. It was the first time that a day was officially named
Sandra Otaka, 1952–2009
Judge Sandra Otaka, a member of the Chicago JACL and a leader in the Asian American community, has passed away.
Editorial: Why is it important to learn history?
Many will say that we learn history so that we won’t repeat our missteps. It’s an easy statement to make but is hard to back up with action …