Speak Out for Justice: August 5, 1981
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To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1981 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) Los Angeles hearings, Visual Communications and Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress (NCRR) presents SPEAK OUT FOR JUSTICE, the entire gavel-to-gavel tape coverage of the Los Angeles hearings, held August 4 - 6, 1981. We are releasing the full 26 hours of tapes, comprising over 150 testimonies from those impacted by Executive Order 9066, including special introductions by various community members. Click here to watch the rest of the footage.
Speak Out for Justice: August 5, 1981
August 5th, 1981 was the second day of the CWRIC Los Angeles hearings, consisting of testimonies from Japanese American veterans, many of whom were drafted for World War II as a way of avoiding internment. Other testifiers experienced economic loss, psychological trauma, and discrimination in schools. This violation of basic civil and human rights due to Executive Order 9066 fueled the growing demand for Redress and Reparations.
On Thursday, August 26 at 6pm PT, join Nikkei Progressives and NCRR for Reparations Then! Reparations Now!, a virtual program to commemorate the anniversary of the CWRIC hearings and the passage of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act, which granted reparations for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. The event will feature leaders of N’COBRA and the HR 40 Coalition, who are committed to supporting the demand of Black-led organizations for the passage of HR 40, a commission to study the harms of slavery and to propose reparations. Click here to RSVP.
An Introduction by Kay Ochi
Co-Chair of NCRR/Los Angeles Kay Ochi provides an overview introduction of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) hearings in Los Angeles, held from August 4 through August 6, 1981. Kay Ochi emphasizes the power of testimonies, grassroots organizations, and the importance of speaking out against injustice.
August 5, 1981 - Part 1
Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) veterans speak out about the injustice shown to Japanese Americans during World War II and in solidarity demand redress. A confrontation occurs between testifier Jim Kawaminami and author Lillian Baker, who denied that Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Introduction by Roy Nakano, Director of UCLA Asian American Studies Center. Part 1 testifiers include Robert Farrell, Thomas Kinaga, Hiroshi Miyamura (read by Phil Shigekuni), Paul Oda, Jim Kawaminami, Jun Fukushima, Mitsuo Usui, Paul Sagawa, Robert Hayamizu, Tsuye Nozawa, and Rev. Bunyu Fujimura.
August 5, 1981 - Part 2
Testifiers continue to show bravery in speaking out on the impact of Japanese internment during World War II. These stories show the economic loss, psychological trauma, and impact on education for many interned Japanese. Introduction by Jen Noji of Nikkei Progressives and Alan Nishio, Former Co-Chair of NCRR Los Angeles. Part 2 testifiers include Jack Fujimoto, Y. Fred Fujikawa, Bill Nakagawa, Sumiko Seki, Arthur Tsuneishi, Mitsuru Sasahara, Ewan Yoshida, Toru Dave Matsuo, June Kizu, and Sue Embrey.
August 5, 1981 - Part 3
In a lunch-time rally planned by NCRR, organizations and communities come together in solidarity to speak out in support for Japanese American Redress. Introduction by Miya Iwataki, Co-Founder of NCRR.
August 5, 1981 - Part 4
As the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) Los Angeles hearings resume, Issei testifiers speak out on the injustice shown towards people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Testifiers from the San Diego Redress and Reparations Committee also speak out on behalf of their experiences and their families. Introduction by Jan Tokumaru, Co-Chair of Nikkei Progressives. Part 4 testifiers include Beth Shironaka, Masaaki Hironaka, Akira Horiuchi, Harry Kawamoto, Elsie Hashimoto, Harry Hashimoto, Francis L. Honda, David Imuhara, Miyo Senzaki, and George Morimoto.
August 5, 1981 - Part 5
As the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) Los Angeles hearings proceed, testimonies of financial losses and psychological trauma drive the movement for Redress and Reparations forward. The testifiers show solidarity in their support for interned people of Japanese ancestry. Introduction by Mark Masaoka and Miyako Noguchi of Nikkei Progressives. Part 5 testifiers include Warren Furutani, Gilbert Sanchez, Elsie Akita Myers, Charles Hamasaki, Ben Hara, Mark Masaoka, Marjorie Matsushita, Alice Tanabe Nehira, and James Goto.
August 5, 1981 - Part 6
Testifiers continue to speak out on economic and property loss as a result of forced relocation and internment. Japanese Americans share their experiences of search, seizure, and mistreatment during their time spent in internment camps. Introduction by Alison Kochiyama, Executive Director of the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute. Part 6 testifiers include Kiyoshi Sonoda, Larry Boss, Mary Ishizuka, Ann Matsuda, Jim Matsuoka, Noboru Nakamoto, Kathryn N. Masaoka, Kuniko Okumura Sato, Yayoi Arakawa Ono, and Hector Watanabe.
