NATIONAL MUSEUM RECOGNIZES REDRESS PROPONENTS AT ANNUAL DINNER

The Japanese American National Museum utilized the occasion of its 2008 Annual Gala Dinner to bring together some of the key figures in the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 in order to present the story of Japanese American redress before an audience of over 1,000 people on Saturday, April 19, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. The government apologized for its unconstitutional forced removal of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II and paid reparations to over 80,000 eligible Nikkei.

The theme of the dinner was "Fulfilling the Promise of America: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988" and included representatives of three community organizations who advocated for redress: John Tateishi of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL); Alan Nishio of the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations (NCRR); and Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga and William Hohri of the National Council for Japanese American Redress (NCJAR). The dinner also brought together the lead counsels for the three coram nobis cases of the 1980s: Rod Kawakami, who represented Gordon Hirabayashi; Dale Minami, who represented Fred Korematsu; and Peggy Nagae, who represented Minoru Yasui, as all three Nisei men fought to overturn their unfair World War II convictions. United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye and former Secretary of Transportation and former Congressman Norman Mineta were also on hand to recall key moments in getting a bill through Congress and then having it signed by President Reagan.

The evening began with former California Governor Pete Wilson (who as a U.S. Senator supported and voted for redress) reading a letter from former First Lady Nancy Reagan. President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 into law on August 10, 1988, and Mrs. Reagan’s letter concluded, "While no one can change history, we can learn from it. We need to remember what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II, and make sure that others are never again denied their freedom in this way. I know my husband is with you in spirit, and I am deeply grateful to all of you for remembering him tonight."

Dr. Ron and Valerie Sugar were the Dinner Co-Chairs. Dr. Sugar, who is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corporation, a Dinner Diamond Sponsor, shared with the dinner guests that his wife’s family had experienced first hand the unfair treatment from the U.S. government during World War II. Jim Albaugh, President and CEO, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and Executive Vice President for Boeing Company (another Dinner Diamond Sponsor), expressed his admiration for Senator Inouye, recipient of the Medal of Honor, and announced Boeing’s $500,000 pledge to support the National Museum’s traveling exhibition, “Fighting for Democracy”, which highlights the contributions of a diverse group of individuals, like Inouye, who served their country with distinction during World War II.

Professor Mitch Maki, co-author of the book, Achieving the Impossible Dream: How Japanese Americans Obtained Redress, led the main multi-media presentation that included historic photographs, video interviews and live spoken word from the key figures of the redress campaign. Highlights from President Reagan’s signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 as well as excerpts from speeches made by the late Senator Spark Matsunaga, the late Representative Robert Matsui and Mineta on the Senate and House floor during the debate of the bill were presented along with Maki’s historic overview in an effort to provide the dinner guests with a clearer perspective on the challenges faced by the redress campaign and the many people who contributed to its ultimate success.

On stage, Nishio recalled not knowing or understanding the camp experience of his family until after college, while Tateishi recounted how the JACL changed strategies when Senator Inouye recommended the establishment of a fact-finding commission to provide an objective determination of the civil rights violation before attempting to pass a bill through Congress, a controversial choice at that time. Herzig-Yoshinaga explained how she found the document in the National Archives that proved the government knew Japanese Americans were not a national security threat, while Nagae, Minami and Kawakami succinctly established the legal principals involved in the three coram nobis cases. Through video, Hohri revealed his thinking behind NCJAR’s class action suit against the government, while Mineta reminisced on how he thought of his parents while watching President Reagan sign the Civil Liberties Act into law. Senator Inouye then shared his speech that he delivered to persuade his colleagues to turn reparation payments into an entitlement in 1989.

Master of ceremonies George Takei, who is also Chairman Emeritus for the National Museum’s Board of Trustees, introduced all of the honored guests, including former Governor Wilson. The redress proponents all received certificates of appreciation and flower leis from Museum Board Chair Ernest Doizaki and Museum CEO Akemi Kikumura Yano. The assembled group received a lengthy standing ovation from the dinner guests in appreciation for their efforts on behalf of Japanese American redress.

Kikumura Yano, who was named CEO in February, thanked her predecessor Irene Hirano for her 20 years of work with the National Museum. She told the gathering, "My job as CEO is to ensure that the Museum’s mission continues to be fulfilled for generations to come. I ask for your help to lay the foundations for our Museum’s future so that stories like redress will be told and retold whenever Americans discuss the Constitution and our democracy."

Kikumura Yano encouraged everyone who enjoyed the redress program to attend the National Museum’s upcoming national conference, "Whose America? Who’s American? Diversity, Civil Liberties and Social Justice" on July 3-6, 2008, in Denver. The conference will be the culmination of Enduring Communities: The Japanese American Experience in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah, a three-year initiative, partially funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and organized by the National Museum in collaboration with educators, students and communities located in the five states.

The annual gala dinner is the National Museum’s single largest fundraiser each year. Through table sponsorships, including Signature Sponsor Dr. Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki, Presenting Sponsors George and Sakaye Aratani and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and Diamond Sponsors Northrop Grumman Corporation, Dr. William and Carol Ouchi, and The Boeing Company, the National Museum raised thousands of dollars. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., also donated a 2008 Lexus LS 460 for an opportunity drawing, which brought in almost $130,000. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. has donated Lexus vehicles to the Museum since 2003, which has provided almost a million dollars in funds for programming. The annual Bid for Education, supported by American Airlines, raises money for school buses to bring local classes to the Museum and supports teacher training and curriculum development. American Honda prints the dinner journal pro bono each year.

The Dinner Committee co-chairs are Tracey Doi, chief financial officer of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and Gene S. Kanamori, Keiro Senior Health Care. Doi, Kanamori and Trustee Paul Shishima, who sold the most Lexus Opportunity tickets, pulled the lucky ticket for the 2008 Lexus LS 460, which went to Laurence Omura of Honolulu, Hawai`i.

For more information on the annual dinner or the upcoming conference, contact the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414.