This month, America celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day when we honor our most famous civil rights leader, remember the struggles that he and others faced, and reflect upon the state of racism and civil liberties today. But Dr. King is not the only civil rights hero we should all be saluting this month. January 30 is Fred Korematsu Day, a day to honor a Bay Area native and national icon who challenged the federal government for the illegal incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, advocated for reparations for Japanese American internees, and fought for the civil rights of all Americans throughout his life.
But how much do you really know about Fred Korematsu and his impact on American democracy? Where do Japanese Americans stand in current discussions of civil rights in an era of anti-Asian hate crimes, Black Lives Matter protests, and reactionary legislation against critical race theory? How does Korematsu’s legacy affect Muslim Americans, immigrants from Latin America, and other people of color?
Join us this Sunday, January 30 at 11:30am for a virtual community event, Seventh Annual Commemoration of Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. Once again, the Japanese American Museum of San Jose is an official organizer of the event, along with The Superior Court of California, The Fred T. Korematsu Institute, Asian Law Alliance, Council on American-Islamic Relations - San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA), Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley, and Santa Clara University School of Law.
This year’s event will kick off with the presentation of vintage, World War II-era flags autographed by Japanese American incarceration camp survivors from across the nation. Judge Johnny Gogo of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, who spearheaded the 48-Star Flag-Signing Project, will present a flag each to Dr. Karen Korematsu, founder and executive director of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute and daughter of Fred Korematsu, and to the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, where it will be on display.
At 12:00 noon, the event will feature a panel discussion, “Building Resilience in the Fight for Racial Justice: Learning from the Past to Build a Better Future.” Panelists will include Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR-SFBA, Judge Johnny Gogo and Dr. Karen Korematsu.
To join the virtual event, please register here.
Attorneys attending the event can receive one hour of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit, provided by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley.
Streets in San Jose named after Japanese American civil rights leaders Fred Korematsu and Gordon Hirabayashi.
FAQs
Where can I learn more about Fred Korematsu?
Here are some resources:
Read his bio or request an educational toolkit on the Fred T. Korematsu Institute website
Watch video: Fred Korematsu: A Civil Rights Hero
Access education resources on the U.S. Courts website
Where is Fred Korematsu Day observed?
Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution is observed every year in California, Florida, Hawaii, Virginia, and New York City. Several other states have also recognized Fred Korematsu Day by proclamation.
What was Fred Korematsu convicted of?
In 1942, Korematsu was convicted of defying military orders for Japanese Americans to report to relocation centers for incarceration.
Where were Fred Korematsu and his family incarcerated?
They were sent to the Central Utah War Relocation Center, also known as the Topaz Relocation Center, where they lived in a converted horse stall.
Why did the United States Supreme Court uphold Korematsu’s conviction in 1944?
During his incarceration, Korematsu fought his conviction, eventually leading to the federal case, Korematsu v. United States. On December 18, 1944, a divided court ruled that the incarceration of Japanese Americans was lawful due to “imminent danger to public safety.”
How was Korematsu’s conviction overturned?
Korematsu’s conviction was overturned in 1983 after legal historian Professor Peter Irons and researcher Aiko Herzig Yoshinaga discovered that in 1944, the government’s legal team willfully withheld F.B.I. reports from the Supreme Court and even attempted to destroy some of these documents that showed that Japanese Americans committed no acts of treason and posed no threat to the country, making mass incarceration unjustified. A pro bono team that included the Asian Law Caucus re-opened the Korematsu case on the basis of government misconduct, and his conviction was overturned on November 10, 1983.
What honors and awards did Fred Korematsu receive?
Some of the many honors and awards that Fred Korematsu received include the Presidential Medal of Honor, the California Senate Medal, Rainbow PUSH Coalition Trailblazer Award, Pearstein Civil Rights Award, Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award, National ACLU Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award, and honorary doctorates from City University of New York Law School, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, California State University East Bay, and the University of San Francisco.
For more information, see the Fred T. Korematsu Institute website.
Where did Fred Korematsu live in the Bay Area?
Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland and lived many years in San Leandro, where a high school campus is named after him.