2006 Day of Remembrance Theme ‘Claiming History: Justice Along Color Lines’ to Focus on 1930’s Mexican ‘Repatriation’, Current Campaign for Official Apology

At the 2006 Day of Remembrance, marking the anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 in 1942 which led to the unconstitutional incarceration of 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry, the program will focus on the historic events surrounding the so-called Mexican “repatriation” of the 1930s in which federal, state and local governments conspired to remove over one million individuals of Mexican descent from the United States. The program will also explain the current campaigns to gain official apologies and redress. The 2006 Day of Remembrance program is set for Saturday, Feb. 18, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. The program is free and no reservations are required.

Under the theme, “Claiming History: Justice Along Color Lines”, the program will feature public officials, scholars, artists and other interested individuals who seek to educate the public on this little-acknowledged chapter of American history. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, with unemployment rampant, sentiment arose in several states, including California and Michigan, that the presence of Mexican and Mexican American laborers was a key factor in the lack of jobs. These unsubstantiated feelings were pressed by many chambers of commerce, civic organizations and local governments, leading to various governments’ expulsion of legal residents and American citizens indiscriminately.

While many people were expelled by city, county and state governments, thousands left voluntarily in the face of intimidation and threats of violence. “There is intense excitement and fear among Mexican Nationals of serious bodily harm,” observed Luis Lupian, Consul General in San Antonio, Texas. California State University, Los Angeles Professor Francisco E. Balderrama co-wrote the book, Decade of Betrayal: Mexican Repatriation in the 1930s, which documents the story of the expulsion of one million people and also highlights the repercussions of the expulsion. Balderrama and Raymond Rodriguez estimate the number of those forced to leave for Mexico exceeded one million people. Many were American citizens.

Prof. Balderrama will serve as keynote speaker for the program. Congressman Xavier Becerra, on behalf of Japanese Latin Americans, will describe his efforts to pass legislation to create commissions to examine the World War II events and to apologize to those who were wrongly denied their civil rights. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has also been invited to participate.

Japanese Latin Americans were illegally held during World War II after being forced to leave South America (which was instigated by the U.S. government), but their efforts to acquire redress have been rebuffed. While Japanese Americans received an official government apology and reparations in 1988, Japanese Latin Americans were excluded from that legislation. A video will be shown and Rep. Becerra will explain current legislation to create a federal commission to look into the historical events.

Poets Gloria Alvarez and Amy Uyematsu will recite from their works as part of the program. Alayne Yonemoto will emcee the program. A reception will follow the program. The 2006 Day of Remembrance program is co-sponsored by Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR), the Japanese American Citizen League, Pacific Southwest District (JACL-PSWD), and the National Museum. For more information, call NCRR at (213) 680-3484, the JACL-PSWD at (213) 626-4471, or the National Museum at (213) 625-0414.