WWII Japanese American Internment Camps & Civil Liberties in Post 9/11 America - Dale Minami talk

/*On the anniversary of the signing of EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066*/

The Asian American Studies Program at Northwestern University is proud
to host

*DALE MINAMI*
Lead attorney in the U.S. Supreme Court case /Korematsu v. United States /
which overturned a 40 year old conviction for refusal to obey
exclusion orders aimed at Japanese Americans during WWII.

*"WW II Japanese American Internment Camps &
Civil Liberties Today in Post 9/11 America"

*Executive Order 9066 Poster*
**
Thursday ~ February 19th*

*12:30 - 1:30 Talk followed by Q&A
1:30 - 2:00 Reception, light lunch is provided
The McCormick Tribune Center Forum */(New Location!)/
(1870 Campus Drive, Evanston. IL)

/This event is free and open to the public//
/
*Minami* has been involved in significant litigation involving the civil
rights of Asian Pacific Americans and other minorities, including
/Korematsu v. United States/ , a lawsuit to overturn a 40 year old
conviction for refusal to obey exclusion orders aimed at Japanese
Americans during WWII.

He was also involved in Spokane JACL v. Washington State University, a
class action on behalf of Asian Pacific Americans to establish an Asian
American Studies program at Washington State University and Nakanishi v.
UCLA a claim for unfair denial of tenure which resulted in the granting
of tenure after several hearing and widespread publicity over
discrimination in academia.

Mr. Minami served as a member of the California Fair Employment and
Housing Commission. He has also served as a Commissioner on the State
Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominee's Evaluation, Senator Barbara
Boxer's Judicial Screening Committee which made recommendations for
Federal Judicial Appointments. In 1996, Minami was appointed by
President Clinton as Chair of the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund.

In recognition of his achievements, Mr. Minami has received numerous
awards including:
. American Bar Association's 2003 Thurgood Marshall Award
. 2003 ACLU Civil Liberties Award
. State Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award
. Honorary Juris Doctor degree from the McGeorge School of Law
. Designation of a dormitory at the University of California at Santa
Cruz ---"Queen Liliuokalani-Minami" Dormitory

/*This event is sponsored by the Asian American Studies Program & The
Center for Legal Studies at Northwestern University*/

/For information: Asian American Studies Program, Northwestern
University . Kresge Hall 1-435 . 1880 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208 .
847.467.7114 . asianamerican@northwestern.edu

Chicago Day of Remembrance - February 15, 2009

The Japanese American Citizen's League (JACL) sent me an email about their upcoming commoration of the internment camps during WWII. I believe this is an important event in the history of Asian Americans for a variety of reasons. In most American history books, there is usually either a small sentence and/or paragraph, describing what had happened to Japanese Americans during WWII. And unfortunately, that is what most young folks in the U.S. grow up knowing about Asian Americans and their historical contributions. When in fact, there are way more contributions and historical significance with Asian Americans than most American history books mention. Just because something is a 'fact', doesn't mean it's 'objective'. And it's also more important to pay attention to what is NOT being written down in history books too.

This is an opportunity to learn more about what took place during the internment

COMMEMORATING THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT DURING WORLD WAR II


February 15, 2009
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL
2 p.m.

An event commemorating the World War II internment of Japanese Americans will be held at the Chicago History Museum on Sunday, April 15, 2009 at 2pm. This Day of Remembrance is annually sponsored by major organizations in the Japanese American community in Chicago. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which led to the forcible internment of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II. The Day of Remembrance program will recognize former internees who testified about their experiences before a federal commission hearing held in Chicago in 1981. The program will feature the recollection of these individuals, a new video on the hearings and a panel of young people who will reflect on this history.

The Day of Remembrance is sponsored by the Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American Service Committee and the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society. Free admission and open to the public.

For information:
Bill Yoshino
Japanese American Citizens League
773.728.7170 or Midwest@jacl.org