BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 16
Author: Eng (D), et al
Amended: 2/18/11 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 2/18/11
SUBJECT : Day of Remembrance
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution declares February 19, 2011, as
Day of Remembrance, in order to increase public awareness
of the events surrounding the internment of American of
Japanese ancestry during World War II.
ANALYSIS :
Resolution Findings
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
signed Executive Order 9066, under which more than 120,000
Americans and resident aliens of Japanese ancestry were
incarcerated in 10 internment camps scattered throughout
the western states during World War II.
Executive Order 9066 deferred the American dream for more
than 120,000 Americans, and resident aliens of Japanese
ancestry by inflicting a great human cost of abandoned
homes, businesses, careers, professional advancements, and
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disruptions to family life.
Despite their families being incarcerated behind barbed
wire in the United States, approximately 33,000 veterans of
Japanese ancestry fought bravely for our country during
World War II, serving in the 100th Battalion, the 442nd
Regimental Combat Team, and the 522nd Field Artillery
Battalion.
On June 21, 2000, President William Jefferson Clinton
elevated 20 Japanese Americans who served in the 100th
Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and were
among 52 individuals who received the nation's second
highest military decoration - the Distinguished Service
Cross - to receive the nation's highest military decoration
- the Medal of Honor - bringing the total number of
Japanese Americans who so received the Medal of Honor to
21.
In 2010, President Barack Obama granted the Congressional
Gold Medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion
and 442nd Regimental Combat Team in recognition of their
dedicated service during World War II.
Nearly 6,000 veterans of Japanese ancestry served with the
Military Intelligence Service and have been credited for
shortening the way by two years by translating enemy battle
plans, defense maps, tactical orders, intercepted messages
and diaries, and interrogating enemy prisoners.
Nearly 40 years after the United States Supreme Court
decisions upholding the convictions of Fred Korematsu, Min
Yasui, and Gordon Hirabayashi for violation s of curfew and
Executive Order 9066, it was discovered that officials from
the United States Department of War and the United States
Department of Justice had altered and destroyed evidence
regarding the loyalty of Americans and resident aliens of
Japanese ancestry and withheld information from the United
States Supreme Court. Dale Minami, Peggy Nagai, Dennis
Hayashi, Rod Kawakami, and many attorneys and interns
contributed innumerable hours to win a reversal of the
original convictions of Korematsu, Yasui, and Hirabayashi
in 1983 by filing a petition for writ of error coram nobis
on the grounds that fundamental errors and injustice
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occurred.
On August 18, 1988, President Ronald Wilson Reagan signed
into law the federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988, finding
that Executive Order 9066 was not justified by military
necessity and, hence was caused by racial prejudice, war
hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.
The federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988 apologized on
behalf of the people of the United States for the
evacuation, internment, and relocation of Americans, and
permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry during World
War II and provided for restitution to those individuals of
Japanese ancestry who were interned.
February 19, 2011, marks 69 years since the signing of
Executive Order 9066 and a policy of grave injustice
against American citizens and resident aliens of Japanese
ancestry.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
CPM:cm 5/11/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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