Reflections on the Civil Liberties Act of 1988
   
On February 17, 2008, the 28th Annual San Jose Day of Remembrance event will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the landmark Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which awarded a national apology and monetary compensation to the surviving Japanese Americans affected by internment.

Although many people see the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 as a great civil rights victory, many are not aware of the great barriers that were overcome in achieving this landmark legislation: a Japanese American population that accounted for just 0.3 percent of the U.S. population and had little political representation, a presumably unsympathetic Republican president and a Republican-controlled Senate, soaring deficits that made people leery of monetary reparations, and opposition from an array of groups and organizations.
Even within the Japanese American community, there was not unanimous support of redress and the organizations and individuals that did support the redress movement did not always agree, and at times bickered, on strategy.


Twenty years later, many in the San Jose community can reflect on the different aspects of redress: what does it all mean to us today, did we fully acknowledge the great injustice for all internees, how did it change our community, have people changed their minds about the legislation, what did it take to get the legislation to pass?

Read more of this article in the Fall 2007 JAMsj Newsletter.
To find out about the San Jose Day of Remembrance, visit www.sjnoc.org.

 
Remembering the Civil Liberties Act from the community
Gary Jio
Nihonmachi Outreach Committee (NOC)
   
When I reflect on the 20th anniversary of the signing
of HR442 and the fight for redress/reparations, three
major thoughts come to mind.

First, on a national level, the passage of national
legislation concerning such a small group of Americans
is incredible.  It goes back to standing on principle
and not being swayed by people saying it was an
“impossible” task or not relevant anymore because “it
happened so long ago”.  Sometimes standing up to what
is right trumps what is possible and we can now see
that it is again very relevant American issue with the
treatment on Muslim Americans.
Second, on a community level, the coming together of the Japanese-American community around the issue was learning and humbling experience.  It took all the segments of the community to win this passage.  Each segment and generation created such a synergy of will that was very inspiring.  Many had to overcome incredible emotional hurdles to contribute their
testimony to our history.  I am still in awe of the Issei and Nisei stories of courage and strength during those times. Although our country sometimes forgets its failures in wartime, we have left a legacy to draw upon in times of crisis and abuse of power.

Last, on a personal level, I am proud of the role that Sansei played in this issue.  Although many of us were too young to have experienced the evacuation and internment, we understood its significance and painful effect on our families, our community and our nation. It has shaped much of who I am, what I value and why it is important to be ever vigilant of our civil liberties.
      
Judy Niizawa
Former JACL President, Peninsula Redress Chairperson
     
Although Judy Niizawa had already established herself as an activist 
outside of the Japanese American community, Judy became a driving force in the Redress 
movement. Needing to reconnect with her own ethnicity and family's history, 
she began by volunteering with the Issei portion of the program.

"When I was younger and I had to specify where I was born, I remember 
filling in 'Amache, Colorado WRA" and I thought that there must have 
been something wrong with my family. From experiences like this,
I think that for many of us working on Redress, we  were able to understand 
and help the community to develop its true potential as Americans."
Judy played a central role in the Redress movement in San Jose. She 
was the San Jose JACL President and Redress Chairperson, and was one 
of the main organizers in the Peninsula Redress Committee.  Invited by 
NOC, she made the trip to Washington D.C to lobby Congress and urged 
veteran Rudy Tokiwa to join in the delegation. While the
Redress legislation stalled during the Reagan administration, Judy and 
some other activists sent in signatures gathered early on petitioning for
reparations.

For all of 1981,she helped prepared over fifty witnesses and was successful 
in having San Jose representation at a nighttime hearing in San Francisco.

"I recall that there were some people in the Japanese American community 
who were against what we doing and that we shouldn't bring it  up, but I 
think that as we moved on, many people realized that they could finally 
speak out and still be seen as loyal Americans.

I spoke out to assure that a Japanese American be on the Commission 
(the Commission on Wartime Relocation of Civilians) since it  was  
proposed that it be made up only of Caucasians."
Judy believes it made a huge difference when Judge Marutani came 
on the commission allowing even the Issei  to open up with their emotional 
testimony.  "Nobody expected that.  His presence at a huge JACL dinner in
San Jose stimulated the creation of a local Commission to study San Jose."

 
Reverend Jay Shinseki
Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple
Instructor for “Japanese Americans in
Santa Clara Valley”, UCSC Extension,
 		    
We recently observed the twentieth anniversary of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act. This observance affords us an opportunity to reflect on not only the battle for reparations but the sacrifices and the sufferings of the WWII internees. Through the many years of hardship whether as soldiers, resistors or internees the Issei and Nisei unknowingly created a place in history that is referred to as a grave injustice. It also created a focal point for maintaining America’s civil rights. Each time the government attempts to take away our civil liberties the 1988 Civil Liberties Act stands as an example for the administration to take pause and contemplate its actions.

Our first thoughts should be of gratitude; this gratitude is extended to many countless individuals. There were the brave individuals who fought for many years for the passage of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act. And of course all the internees, innocent men women and children who endured the years of incarceration in the many concentration camps and federal camps run by the government. There were also the many non-internees who served in the military and through their actions and sacrifices showed much of America that Nikkei are loyal citizens. And then there are the men who resisted the draft, resisted the racism and challenged the government. All of them contributed to a historical moment that continues to affect all American’s lives.

As Americans the 1988 Civil Liberties Act is a watershed moment in our history. It is evidence both for us as citizens and for the government that this cannot happen ever again to any American. It was essential that the funds be appropriated for reparations and education. Essential not because of the amount, $20,000 could never pay for the years of suffering and the losses, but because it has an impact on the government and the nation and it set a historical precedent that has been referred to each time there is an attack on our civil liberties. As Americans we can be thankful to the Nikkei for their sacrifice and their continuing the fight on behalf of all Americans.

For all who had received the reparations there were many more who did not receive the money. For many it came too late. In their memory the framers of the Act wisely added the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund. In this way their legacy lives on and generations of children learn and hear of the internment of the Japanese. As more people learn the story of the Japanese Americans, we will have more citizens who will be defenders of our human rights and civil rights. 

As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1988 Civil Rights Act, we can look at it as a great accomplishment for the Nikkei community and Americans in the battle for freedom and justice. We should also continue to remember the sacrifices and continue to fulfill our obligation to act as watchdogs and monitor the actions of our government.