Events Marking the 20th Anniversary of the National Apology to Japanese Americans...

Events Marking the 20th Anniversary of the National Apology to Japanese
Americans Interned During World War II

WASHINGTON, July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's capital will
host two events marking the 20th anniversary of The Civil Liberties Act of
1988. The Act offered an historic national apology and reparations to Japanese
Americans unjustly interned by the U.S. government during World War II.
As the August 10th date of enactment approaches, the National Japanese
American Memorial Foundation (NJAMF) will honor the 120,000 Americans of
Japanese ancestry who were involuntarily relocated from their homes to
desolate internment camps in remote areas of the United States and the more
than 30,000 Japanese Americans who volunteered for military service despite
this injustice.
"Redressing the internment was never just a Japanese American issue. It
was an American issue," said NJAMF board member, former member of Congress and
former Cabinet Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. "The campaign for the Civil
Liberties Act of 1988 was successful because of its humanity and because of
the broad coalition of Americans who came together to pursue justice and to
ensure that the wholesale persecution of any group of Americans never happens
again." Mineta was born and raised in San Jose, California. He and his family
would be interned at Heart Mountain, Wyoming during the War. While in
Congress, Mineta was a leader in the redress movement.
"The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 is a reminder of a dark moment in
American history," said Dr. Craig Uchida, chairman of NJAMF's board. "However,
our government bravely acknowledged its wrongful acts and sought to remedy
them. This legislation also reminds us that our citizens' constitutional
rights must be guarded and upheld regardless of their race, religion or
ethnicity."
The first event is a reception on Capitol Hill today, July 31st. Dr.
Uchida will give opening and closing remarks. Former Cabinet Secretary Norman
Y. Mineta is the featured speaker. Other speakers are scheduled to include:
-- Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, another leader of the Redress
movement, a veteran of World War II and recipient of the Medal of Honor
-- Congressman Mike Honda of California, Chair of the Congressional Asian
Pacific American Caucus, who was also interned at the Amache internment camp
during the war
-- Congresswoman Doris Matsui of California, who was born at the Poston
internment camp
The second Foundation event is a public ceremony at the Japanese American
Memorial to Patriotism During World War II on August 3rd. Dr. Craig Uchida
will act as master of ceremonies. Former Cabinet Secretary Norman Y. Mineta is
also the featured speaker for this event. Other speakers include:
-- Robert Nakamoto, President, Japanese American Veterans' Association
(JAVA)
-- Melanie B. Maron, Executive Director, American Jewish Committee,
Washington, DC chapter
-- Professor Frank F. Wu, on behalf of the Committee of 100
-- Donna Hollingshead, on behalf of the Japanese American Citizens League
(JACL), Washington, DC chapter
-- Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador of Japan
33 organizations are co-sponsoring the event among them several Asian
American organizations and leading civil rights groups, including the American
Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Asian American Justice Center,
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights, NAACP, and National Council of La Raza.
During the ceremony members of JAVA will present the colors and lay a
wreath to honor those who served during World War II. The JACL and the Cranes
for Compassion Project will present 25,000 paper cranes (1,000 cranes for each
of the internment and Department of Justice camps) as a tribute to Japanese
Americans' loyalty and courage during the War.
Event details:
Congressional Reception (R.S.V.P. required)
July 31, 2008, 6 to 8:00 p.m.
U.S. Capitol Building, Room HC-5

Anniversary Ceremony (free and open to the public)
August 3, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During Would War II
Intersection of Louisiana and New Jersey Avenues and D Street, NW,
Washington, D.C.

About NJAMF:
The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation (NJAMF) is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to education and public awareness about the Japanese
American experience during World War II. NJAMF raised the private funds to
build the Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II. The
Memorial is not only a monument to the Japanese American experience, but also
a reminder that we must not allow anything like this to happen to any minority
community again. www.njamf.com
SOURCE National Japanese American Memorial Foundation

Lawrence Kopp, larry@thetascgroup.com, or Laura Fenton,
laura@thetascgroup.com, The T.A.S.C. Group, +1-646-723-4344, +1-917-282-2357,
both for National Japanese American Memorial Foundation