California Apologizes for Japanese American Internment During WWII
Background
During World War II, approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to internment camps across the Western states and Arkansas. This mass incarceration was authorized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s executive order on February 19, 1942.
California’s Role
California was home to two of the nation’s ten internment camps, including the infamous Manzanar concentration camp. The state played a significant role in supporting the incarceration of Japanese Americans.
Historical Context
The decision to intern Japanese Americans was fueled by racist hysteria and paranoia following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite being American citizens, these individuals were targeted, rounded up, and imprisoned solely based on their ethnicity.
Government Apologies
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which apologized to people of Japanese ancestry on behalf of the United States and granted reparations to incarcerated individuals. Three decades later, the Supreme Court overturned the Korematsu v. United States ruling that had upheld the internment.
California’s Apology
On February 19, 2020, exactly 78 years after the authorization of the internment, the California Assembly approved HR 77, a resolution formally acknowledging the state’s role in the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans. The resolution includes language regarding California’s “past actions in support of the unjust inclusion, removal, and incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II.”
Assemblyman Muratsuchi’s Role
State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi introduced HR 77 as a way for California to confront its checkered past and lead by example. He stated, “I wanted to do something different and have California lead by example.”
Other Historical Injustices
The resolution also addresses other historical injustices faced by Japanese Americans in California, including the alien land laws of 1913 and 1920, which barred people of Asian descent from purchasing or leasing land, and a series of 1940s measures that further stripped away their civil rights.
Significance of the Apology
Assemblyman Muratsuchi emphasized the importance of the apology while camp survivors are still alive. He said, “I want the California Legislature to officially acknowledge and apologize while these camp survivors are still alive.”
Prevention of Future Injustices
The resolution also refers to “recent national events,” encouraging the government to take actions “to ensure that such an assault on freedom will never again happen to any community in the United States.”
Additional Information
- The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has long advocated for reparations and recognition of the injustices faced by Japanese Americans during WWII.
- Manzanar National Historic Site preserves the history of the internment camp and serves as a reminder of the importance of civil rights and liberties.
- The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 provided $20,000 in reparations to each incarcerated individual.
