Japanese American National Museum and National Coalition for Redress/Reparations Present 'Day of Remembrance' Programs on Feb. 19 and 20

In annual remembrance of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the unconstitutional incarceration of more than 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II, the Japanese American National Museum and the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations (NCRR) are featuring a weekend of programs and events at the Japanese American National Museum on Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20, 1999.

On Friday, February 19 at 7 p.m., the panel discussion Redress Then and Now includes the key-figures in the coram nobis cases who helped to advance the Redress movement of the 1980s—a process that culminated in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 signed by President Ronald Reagan. On Saturday, February 20 at 2 p.m., Resistance and Redress: Standing for Justice presents some of the draft resisters of conscience during World War II as well as a multi-media tribute to the draft resisters.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday, February 19 at 7 p.m. is Redress Then and Now, featuring Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and a representative from the Minoru Yasui family. The participants will talk about their cases against the United States government in opposition to the mass incarceration in a panel discussion moderated by Peter Irons, PhD (the scholar who discovered the documents that laid the foundation for the coram nobis cases). Also to be discussed on Friday is the significance of the end of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 this last August, 1998.

On Saturday, February 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Resistance and Redress: Standing for Justice, will explore the courage and steadfast principles of the draft resisters of conscience during World War II. Included will be a multi-media performance-piece dedicated to the draft resisters of conscience during World War II. This multi-media event will feature live music by the band Visiting Violette; and is produced in collaboration with the NCRR, Visual Communications, and directed by hereandnow theatre co.

The Day of Remembrance is an annual ceremony held around February 19 to commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066. This year’s occasion marks a special Day of Remembrance as it commemorates the closing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The National Coalition for Redress/Reparations, one of the three major national organizations that fought for redress for Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II, is co-sponsoring the events. The Day of Remembrance programs are open to the public and free of charge. Because seating is limited, advanced registration is required. To RSVP, call 213.625.0414.

The Japanese American National Museum is located at 369 East First Street, in the Historic Little Tokyo District, Los Angeles. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. After January 26, 1999, admission prices are $6 for Adults, $5 for Seniors (62 and over), $3 for Students and Children over 5, and Free for Members and Children under 5. For more information, visit our website at www.janm.org, or call 213.625.0414.