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28th Annual
San Jose
Day of Remembrance 2008
20 Years after
Redress:
Civil
Liberties and War
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
640 North 5th Street, San Jose
5:30-7:30pm
Free and open to the public
Download an event flyer
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The annual Day of Remembrance event commemorates the signing of
Executive Order 9066 which
led to the incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese descent, two-thirds
of whom were American citizens, during WWII.
At this year's program, we will reflect on the impact of the landmark
Civil Liberties Act of 1988,
legislation that formally apologized and paid reparations (Redress) to
former internees. On this 20th anniversary of this historic legislation, we
will ask ourselves the question "what does it all mean to us today?",
in the context of today's tumultuous, wartime environment.The Day of
Remembrance program will feature Banafsheh Akhlaghi, an
Iranian-American attorney and President of the National Legal Sanctuary for
Community Advancement (www.nlsca.com).
Akhlaghi, who also taught constitutional law at
John F. Kennedy University, has been a central figure in leading a direct
response to the new challenges facing targeted communities after the tragic
events of 9/11.
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Another featured speaker,
Carolyn Kameya, is an original NOC member who was active
during the Redress movement. She will share her thoughts on the
monumental legislation and its significance.
The program will also feature
an electrifying performance by San
Jose Taiko, other intercommunity speakers, and the
traditional candlelight procession through historic Japantown.
For more information: |
Iman Tahir Anwar at
DoR 2007 |
web:
www.sjnoc.org email:
info@sjnoc.org Tel: 408-505-1186 |
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Jimi Yamaichi and
Congressman Mike Honda |
San Jose Taiko's PJ
Hirabayashi |
Heart Mountain: where many San
Jose residents were interned. |
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Photographs courtesy of Gary Jio and Andy Frazer |
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Tule Lake Pilgrimage
July 3-6, 2008
For more info:
www.tulelake.org |
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| Attending the
pilgrimage to the Tule Lake Segregation Center,
located near the Oregon border, was truly a life-changing
event for me. Not only did the trip inspire my journey
toward working for positive change within the community and
give me a better sense of the fragility of our own civil
liberties, it also allowed the relationship between myself
and my father, a former internee, to open up after many
years of silence (you can read my article: "The
Secret of Tule Lake"). Join other members of NOC
on this emotional journey to Tule Lake and celebrate and
contemplate what it means to be an American on this 4th of
July weekend. -Will Kaku, NOC Vice Chair |
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Rendition of the new JAMsj |
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Japanese American Museum
of San Jose
New Building Campaign |
| At last year's Day of
Remembrance, we put a spotlight on the
Japanese American Museum of
San Jose (JAMsj). Dr. Aggie Idemoto of JAMsj presented
her vision of JAMsj in the community and gave an update on
the new museum construction project. |
| While the museum
is currently closed during construction, JAMsj still reaches
thousands of people each year through its educational
outreach programs, traveling exhibits, film screenings, book
talks, Japantown walking tours, research
opportunities, student internships and other special events.
As we mentioned at last year's event, every single day at
JAMsj captures the spirit of the Day of
Remembrance.
JAMsj eloquently communicates a community's struggle to
establish itself in the American tapestry. As the years go
by, many first-person accounts of this struggle have become
increasingly rare, and thus, NOC believes that it is vitally
important for people in the community to contribute to the
new JAMsj building fund so that they can continue to
tell this great American story. For more information on
donating to JAMsj or for helping with their fundraising
drive, please contact the museum office at 408-294-3138 or
visit their website:
www.jamsj.org. |
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Journey through the Unknown
The
Japanese American Experience during World War II
February 1-3, 2008
10:00am-4:00pm
Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
2751 Louis Road,
Palo Alto, California |
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This three-day event features exhibits, speakers,
and artifacts related to events that took place
before, during, and after World War II. This event
gives exposure to the evacuation of more than
120,000 people of Japanese ancestry (two-thirds of
whom were U.S. citizens) from the West coast during
World War II, those who fought in the U.S. military
to defend their honor, and the evacuees’ eventual
return to the West coast.
Highlights:
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“The 120,000 Tassel Tapestry”
created by 503 8th graders from Lafayette,
Indiana, chronicles events of the time and was
displayed at the dedication of the National
Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in
Washington D.C.
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Leila Meyerratken, teacher of the 8th
graders from Lafayette, Indiana, will be present
to answer questions about the tapestry project.
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Former evacuees and servicemen will share their
experiences.
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An elaborate artifact exhibit and videos will
provide depth to some of the events depicted on
the tapestry.
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Friends of the Japanese American Community
exhibit will honor those from the local
community who gave aid and comfort to the
evacuees before, during, and after the war.
The event is free and open to the public. Donations
are welcome.
The event sponsors: Palo Alto Buddhist Temple,
Sequoia JACL, Mountain View Buddhist Temple,
Aldersgate United Methodist Church,
Japanese American
Museum of San Jose (JAMsj)
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For more information contact: Ann
Okamura (650) 366-8042 email:
annokamura@rcn.com
or Ed Masuda (650) 694-7990 email:
emasuda@sbcglobal.net |
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Campaign for Justice
Redress Now for Japanese Latin Americans
For more info:
www.campaignforjusticejla.org
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| Panama Canal Zone:
Japanese Peruvians en route to U.S. Internment Camps. April 2, 1942.
U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo. National Archives. Courtesy of
National Japanese American Historical Society. |
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At previous Day of Remembrance events, we
have given you updates on the
Campaign For Justice
efforts to educate the public about the incarceration of Japanese
Latin Americans and to obtain redress for them. Since we are
commemorating the landmark Civil Liberties Act of 1988 at
this year's event, we would be remiss if we also did not mention
that thousands |
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acknowledged in that legislation. Many people are now aware that
Japanese Americans were interned during World War II, but most don't
realize that from December 1941 to February 1948, the U.S.
government orchestrated and financed the mass abduction, forcible
deportation and internment of 2,264 men, women, and children of
Japanese ancestry from 13 Latin American countries. Stripped of
their passports en route to the U.S. these Japanese Latin Americans
(JLAs) were declared “illegal aliens”.
The U.S. planned to use them as
hostages in exchange for Americans held by Japan. Over 800 JLAs were
included in two prisoner of war exchanges between the U.S. and
Japan. The remaining JLAs were imprisoned without due process of law
in U.S. Department of Justice internment camps until after the end
of the war. Since many were initially barred from returning to their
home countries, more than 900 JLAs were deported to war devastated
Japan.
At last year's Day of
Remembrance program, we mentioned that a bill,
Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans
of Japanese Descent Act (H.R. 662 and S. 381), was introduced to
the 110th Congress on Jan. 24, 2007. On June 14, 2007, the
bill passed the
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The Campaign for Justice, JACL, and other organizations are
requesting a hearing in the
House Judiciary Committee and they are working for the
passage of this bill.
NOC strongly supports efforts to
acknowledge and redress the fundamental injustices suffered by JLAs
during WWII. You can also support the Campaign for Justice efforts
by:
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Writing a letter of support of
H.R. 662 and S. 381 to your member of Congress and senators. You
can click this link
to obtain a sample letter.
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Donating to the Campaign for
Justice so that they can finance lobbying and educational
efforts.
Visit
www.campaignforjusticejla.org or contact
JLAcampaign@gmail.com
to find out more information on how you can help push this important
legislation through Congress. |
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Spaghetti and Crab Feed
"All You Can Eat"
Saturday February 9, 2008
Palo Alto Buddhist Church
Dining hall open from 4:30pm-7:00pm
Tickets must be purchased in advance. |
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Sponsored by Sequoia JACL, Palo Alto
Youth Services, Palo Alto Judo Club.
Ticket prices: $30/Adults, $20/Seniors (75 or older), $15/Children
(11 years old and younger)
Free for children 5 years old and younger. No tickets will be sold
at the door.To order your ticket, call Mike Kaku at 408-985-2747. |
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