Eighty years in the past, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Govt Order 9066, stripping individuals of Japanese descent of their civil rights. That order and the following actions carried out by the Federal Authorities symbolize one of the shameful chapters in our Nation’s historical past. On this Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration Throughout World Battle II, we acknowledge the unjust incarceration of some 120,000 Japanese People, roughly two-thirds of whom have been born in america.
Regardless of by no means being charged with a criminal offense, and with out due course of, Japanese People have been forcibly faraway from their houses and communities and incarcerated, merely due to their heritage. For years, many Japanese People lived in harsh, overcrowded circumstances, surrounded by barbed wire fences and armed guards. Not solely did they lose their houses, companies, property, and financial savings — in addition they misplaced their liberty, safety, and the elemental freedoms that belong to all People in equal measure.
I’ve all the time believed that nice nations don’t ignore their most painful moments — they confront them with honesty and, in doing so, be taught from them and develop stronger because of this. The incarceration of Japanese People 80 years in the past is a reminder to us right now of the tragic penalties we invite after we permit racism, worry, and xenophobia to fester.
Right now, we reaffirm the Federal Authorities’s formal apology to Japanese People whose lives have been irreparably harmed throughout this darkish interval of our historical past, and we solemnly mirror on our collective ethical duty to make sure that our Nation by no means once more engages in such un-American acts. We acknowledge the intergenerational trauma and loss that the incarceration of Japanese People has brought on. We additionally uplift the braveness and resilience of courageous Japanese People who, regardless of being unjustly incarcerated, fashioned highly effective communities and marshalled unbelievable dignity and power.
A lot of these whose households have been incarcerated volunteered or have been drafted to serve in fight — courageously serving within the a centesimal Infantry Battalion, Navy Intelligence Service, Girls’s Army Auxiliary Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and the 442nd Regimental Fight Workforce with unwavering patriotism. The all-Japanese American a centesimal Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Fight Workforce grew to become two of essentially the most adorned and distinguished navy models in our Nation’s historical past. Numerous Japanese People carry ahead this legacy of extraordinary service right now, and their work to protect the historical past of this era strengthens our Nation and our democracy.
We mirror on the bravery of civil rights leaders like Fred Korematsu, Minoru Yasui, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Mitsuye Endo, and that of each Japanese American who organized and sought redress. Their efforts helped deliver in regards to the first Day of Remembrance, led President Jimmy Carter to signal the legislation creating the Fee on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, and spurred President Ronald Reagan to signal the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which supplied financial reparations to dwelling survivors and an official apology to the Japanese American group. On the identical time, we additionally acknowledge the painful actuality that Japanese Latin People, who have been taken from their Central and South American houses and incarcerated by america Authorities throughout World Battle II, have been excluded from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
Right now, the Nationwide Park Service helps protect a number of Japanese American incarceration camps. These tangible reminders of our historical past present essential areas for reflection and studying in regards to the injustices born of prejudice. Preserving incarceration websites as nationwide parks and historic landmarks is proof of our Nation’s dedication to dealing with the wrongs of our previous, to therapeutic the ache nonetheless felt by survivors and their descendants, and to making sure that we all the time bear in mind why it issues that we by no means cease preventing for equality and justice for all. My Administration is dedicated to sustaining these nationwide parks and landmarks for future generations and to combating xenophobia, hate, and intolerance — together with via the reestablished White Home Initiative on Asian People, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Within the phrases of Dr. Frank Kitamoto, who was incarcerated as a toddler, “This isn’t only a Japanese American story however an American story with implications for the world.”
The phrases we use to explain the historic and current therapy of communities of shade and different underserved communities have profound that means. Right now, we acknowledge that euphemistic phrases that we’ve collectively used previously — resembling “meeting facilities,” “relocation,” or “internment” — don’t adequately describe the injustice skilled by some 120,000 individuals; we acknowledge the compelled elimination and mass incarceration of Japanese People and others throughout World Battle II; and we reaffirm our dedication to Nidoto Nai Yoni, which interprets to “Let It Not Occur Once more.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of america of America, by advantage of the authority vested in me by the Structure and the legal guidelines of america, do hereby proclaim February 19, 2022, as a Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration Throughout World Battle II. I name upon the individuals of america to commemorate this injustice in opposition to civil liberties and civil rights throughout World Battle II; to honor the sacrifice of those that defended the democratic beliefs of this Nation; and to commit collectively to eradicate systemic racism to heal generational trauma in our communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I’ve hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of February, within the 12 months of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the 2 hundred and forty-sixth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
