Bill Summary
The resolution proposes the designation of January 30, 2025, as "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution." It honors Fred Korematsu, who was born to Japanese immigrant parents and became a prominent figure in the fight for civil liberties during World War II, when over 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly interned in camps under Executive Order 9066. Korematsu resisted this order, leading to his arrest and subsequent Supreme Court case, which upheld his conviction at the time. Later, the government acknowledged the racial prejudice behind the internment, leading to the overturning of his conviction in 1983. The resolution emphasizes Korematsu's impact on civil rights, urging reflection on the importance of protecting individual liberties, particularly during times of crisis. It also highlights that several states have already recognized January 30 as a day to commemorate his legacy.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the designation of January 30, 2025, as "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution" could affect people:
1. **Increased Awareness and Education**: The establishment of Fred Korematsu Day serves as a platform for educational initiatives focused on civil liberties and the historical injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II. Schools, universities, and community organizations could hold events, workshops, and discussions to highlight the importance of protecting civil rights, particularly during times of national crisis. This increased awareness can help foster a more informed citizenry that understands the implications of government actions on individual freedoms.
2. **Promotion of Civil Rights Advocacy**: Commemorating Korematsu's legacy could inspire individuals and groups to advocate for civil rights and social justice. By reflecting on the injustices of the past, communities may be motivated to challenge current policies that threaten civil liberties, particularly those impacting marginalized communities. This can lead to more robust civic engagement and activism aimed at protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of their background.
3. **Encouragement of Political Accountability**: The resolution emphasizes the role of political leadership in safeguarding civil liberties. By commemorating Korematsu's struggle and the historical context of his fight against injustice, citizens may feel empowered to hold their elected officials accountable for their actions, particularly during emergencies. This could lead to greater scrutiny of policies and practices that may infringe on civil rights, encouraging a culture of vigilance and responsibility among both the public and policymakers.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 77 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 77
Supporting the designation of January 30, 2025, as ``Fred Korematsu Day
of Civil Liberties and the Constitution''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 28, 2025
Mr. Takano (for himself, Ms. Tokuda, and Ms. Matsui) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of January 30, 2025, as ``Fred Korematsu Day
of Civil Liberties and the Constitution''.
Whereas Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu was born on January 30, 1919, in Oakland,
California, to Japanese immigrant parents;
Whereas Fred Korematsu attempted to enlist in the United States National Guard
and the United States Coast Guard after the United States entered World
War II and was rejected because of his Japanese ancestry;
Whereas, after the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, by
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which authorized the forced
imprisonment of 120,000 people of Japanese descent into prison camps,
the majority of whom were American citizens, Fred Korematsu resisted
that infringement of American civil liberties and attempted to continue
his life as an American citizen until he was arrested, convicted, and
incarcerated at a concentration camp in Topaz, Utah;
Whereas, in 1944, Fred Korematsu appealed his case to the United States Supreme
Court, which ruled against him, declaring in Korematsu v. United States
that Japanese incarceration was a ``military necessity'' rather than an
egregious act of racial discrimination;
Whereas, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter created the Commission on Wartime
Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC), which concluded in 1983
that the forced removal and imprisonment of people of Japanese ancestry
was motivated by ``race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of
political leadership'';
Whereas, during this time, researchers at the University of California, San
Diego uncovered documents from the United States Department of Justice
in which intelligence agencies, including the FBI, the FCC, and the
Office of Naval Intelligence, denied that Japanese-Americans ever
committed wrongdoing, but which were never presented to the United
States Supreme Court during Korematsu v. United States;
Whereas, following the conclusion of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians and the findings on governmental misconduct,
Fred Korematsu reopened his case, and on November 10, 1983, the United
States District Court of Northern California in San Francisco overturned
his conviction;
Whereas Fred Korematsu's courageously fought injustice by challenging the
constitutionality of Executive Order 9066, and his lawsuit remains an
important lesson about the fragility of individual civil liberties
during a time when the Nation is experiencing threats to its national
security;
Whereas Fred Korematsu continued to fight injustice and defend the liberties of
Muslim people when, in 2003, he warned in an amicus brief that the
United States extreme national security measures following the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, were reminiscent of the mistakes of the
past that undermined American civil liberties, including the Alien and
Sedition Acts of 1798, the suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil
War, the prosecution of dissenters during World War I, the Red Scare of
1919-1920, the interment of people of Japanese descent during World War
II, and the era of loyalty oaths and McCarthyism during the Cold War;
Whereas the democratic character of the American people will be nourished and
enhanced by opportunities for civic education on the significant
challenges that have been posed to our Constitution;
Whereas a day of annual national reflection on how the Fred Korematsu quest for
justice is important to educating the American people about preserving
civil liberties and the principle of equality before the law; and
Whereas the States of California, Florida, Hawaii, Virginia, Arizona, New
Jersey, and Michigan have already designated January 30 as Fred
Korematsu Day to commemorate his lifelong fight for civil liberties and
the Constitution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of a ``Fred Korematsu Day of
Civil Liberties and the Constitution'';
(2) recognizes Fred Korematsu's bravery and resilience in
the face of adversity; and
(3) encourages all people to reflect on the importance of
political leadership and vigilance and on the values of justice
and civil rights during times of uncertainty and emergency.
<all>