Takano, Duckworth Reintroduce the Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act on Japanese American Day of Remembrance
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on Japanese American Day of Remembrance, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reintroduced bicameral legislation to prohibit the detention or imprisonment based on their race, nationality, or any other perceived characteristic. This bill is co-led with the two other Japanese American Representatives in the House, Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02)and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07); in the Senate, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) is co-leading.
The legislation is named in honor of the late U.S. Congressman Mark Takai from Hawaii for his long-time leadership on this issue prior to his passing, and Fred Korematsu, who bravely challenged the Civilian Executive Order in the Supreme Court that directed all people of Japanese ancestry be removed from designated areas on the West Coast. Japanese American Day of Remembrance is recognized every year on February 19th, the anniversary of when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, as a reminder of the impact the incarceration had on Japanese American families and the country.
“It is only right that we introduce this bill with the Korematsu and Takai name on the Japanese American Day of Remembrance,” said Rep. Takano. “Their legacies of standing up for what is right and fighting for Japanese Americans incarcerated at the hands of our government is a reminder that human rights require a commitment from us all. I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to ensure the dignity of all people and so that the horror my family and tens of thousands of other Japanese Americans experienced never happens again.”
“Our nation must never forget or repeat the horrors thousands of innocent Japanese Americans experienced as prisoners within our own borders,” said Sen. Duckworth.“While Donald Trump and his allies seek to suppress the dark chapters of our nation’s history, I’m proud to reintroduce this bill with Senator Hirono and Congressman Takano to reaffirm our commitment to upholding constitutional principles and safeguarding civil liberties in honor of Fred Korematsu and in remembrance of my dear friend and former colleague, Mark Takai. Only by recognizing our nation’s most shameful mistakes can we learn from them and help ensure horrific tragedies like these never happen again.”
This legislation has been endorsed by nearly 100 organizations, including the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, the Japanese American Citizens League, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, and others. You can find the full list of endorsing organizations here.
Earlier this year, Rep. Takano along with a bipartisan and bicameral group of Members of Congress introduced legislation to grant Fred Korematsu a Congressional Gold Medal and introduce a resolution to create the Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day.
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