Fighting Together for Our Democracy

The unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII serves as a reminder of the importance of civic activism in defense of American democracy. We cannot rely on our government or “someone else” to speak out and take action. It is up to ordinary people – you and me – to ensure our government and our democracy works for all people, not just some people.

Many who lived through the experience of the camps, as well as their families, are sharing their stories to educate the public and ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again. Pilgrimages to the incarceration camps by former inmates and their families began as early as 1969 with the first Manzanar pilgrimage. Day of Remembrance commemorations to remember the signing of Executive Order 9066 started in Seattle in 1978 and have grown into a national movement.

As we navigate through our current day, the need to remember the story of Japanese American wartime incarceration has taken on a new sense of urgency. Together, we can work to ensure that these events never happen again and to make “liberty and justice for all” a reality in our great nation.