In Commemoration of the Day of Remembrance and in Support of the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2003

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND IN SUPPORT OF THE WARTIME PARITY AND JUSTICE ACT OF 2003 -- HON. XAVIER BECERRA (Extensions of Remarks - March 09, 2004)

HON. XAVIER BECERRA
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2004

Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to reflect on our past as we pave the way to a brighter future. The Japanese-American community recognizes a National Day of Remembrance each year to educate the public about the lessons learned from the internment camp experience during World War II to ensure that it never happens again. The Day of Remembrance commemorates February 19, 1942, the day on which President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which eliminated the civil liberties of 120,000 people of Japanese descent and sent our country down a shameful path of race-based discrimination, veiled by the fog of war. I ask for my colleagues' support for House Resolution 56 (H. Res. 56); and I commend my friend from California, Congressman MIKE HONDA, for offering it and for his leadership in championing awareness of the Japanese-American internment. H. Res. 56 recognizes the historical significance of February 19 and expresses congressional support for the Japanese-American, German-American, and Italian-American communities in their goals to raise public awareness of Day of Remembrance events.

The force of wartime hysteria darkened the light of justice and reasonable people suddenly embarked on an unreasonable course. Indeed, America was engaged in a monumental struggle as our soldiers engaged the enemy in the European and Pacific Theatre. Here in the United States, many citizens had faces that looked like that of the enemy. Without any evidence, fear was mounting, and the patriotism of these Japanese Americans was questioned. Some worried that they were intent on doing harm against the very flag they saluted. Decades later, history vindicated these loyal Americans as not even a single documented case of sabotage or espionage was committed by an American of Japanese ancestry during that time.

What our Nation found through the disinfectant of time, those who endured internment knew all along. Surrounded by armed guards behind a prison fence, mothers thought of their sons who fought for the freedom of the Nation that denied them of their own liberty.

Indeed today history shows that the Japanese-American soldiers of the 442nd combat regiment fought honorably and bravely for ideals they knew our Nation had not yet afforded to their own families back home. Still, they were worth fighting for. And this regiment would become the most decorated group of soldiers in American history as they proved their devotion to our Nation fighting in both the European and Pacific theatres. It took more than 50 years, but finally in 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded 22 of these heroes with the Medal of Honor.

In 1983, a Presidential Commission concluded that the internment was the result of both racism and wartime hysteria. Five years later, then President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act into law that provided an official apology and redress to most of those confined in U.S. internment camps during World War II. This was the culmination of half a century of struggle to bring justice to those for whom it was denied. I am proud that our Nation did the right thing. But 16 years after the passage of the CLA, we still have unfinished work to be done to rectify and close this regrettable chapter in our Nation's history.

I introduced bipartisan legislation, the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2003 (H.R. 779) to finish the remaining work of redress. While most Americans are aware of the internment of Japanese Americans, few know about our government's activities in other countries resulting from prejudice held against people of Japanese ancestry. Recorded thoroughly in government files, the U.S. Government involved itself in the expulsion and internment of an estimated 2,000 people of Japanese descent who lived in various Latin American countries. Uprooted from their homes and forced into the United States, these civilians were robbed of their freedom as they were kidnapped from nations not even directly involved in World War II. These individuals are still waiting for equitable redress, and justice cries out for them to receive it. That is why I introduced H.R. 779, to finally turn the last page in this chapter of our Nation's history, so that we not only remember that our country took away civil rights from innocent people from other countries, but that we now have recognized the wrong of our actions and have taken steps to provide equitable redress.

This bill provides redress to every Japanese Latin American individual forcibly removed and interned in the United States. These people paid a tremendous price during one of our Nation's most trying times. Indeed, America accomplished much during that great struggle. As we celebrate our great achievements as a Nation let us also recognize our errors and join together as a Nation to correct those mistakes. My legislation is the right thing to do to affirm our commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

In addition, the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2003 provides relief to Japanese-Americans confined in this country but who never received redress under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 given technicalities in the original law. Our laws must always establish justice. They should never deny it. That is why these provisions ensure that every American who suffered the same injustices will receive the same justice. Finally, my legislation will reauthorize the educational mandate in the 1988 act, which was never fulfilled. This will etch this chapter of our nation's history into our national conscience for generations to come as a reminder never to repeat it again.

Recently, in Los Angeles I was fortunate to join with about 300 individuals to commemorate the Day of Remembrance in Los Angeles at the historic Japanese American National Museum. Included in the Los Angeles Day of Remembrance program was the screening of a film, "Stand Up for Justice," which tells the story of Ralph Lazo, a Mexican-Irish American student at Belmont High School in downtown Los Angeles. Even in 1941, the school had an ethnically diverse population, and the film depicts Ralph's anger at the pain suffered by his Japanese American friend, Jimmy Matsuoka. Jimmy and his family are forced to sell their belongings and "evacuate" to a remote concentration camp. At the age of 16 Ralph voluntarily accompanied his Japanese American friends to Manzanar Internment Camp, where he spent 2 ½ years. Ralph remained a dear friend to the Japanese community and his loss was sorely felt in 1992 when friends mourned the death of their loyal friend. He had stood by Japanese Americans during the difficult times at Manzanar and throughout the campaign for redress, and he demonstrated that you don't have to be Japanese American to stand up for what is right.

At the forefront of this fight for justice, there are Members of Congress, the community and individuals like Ralph Lazo, giving a voice to those who were wronged in the past. Let us all remember, that the fight for justice for Japanese internees is one that is being fought by the entire community regardless of their ethnicity. We must all "Stand Up for Justice."

Mr. Speaker, let us renew our resolve to build a better future for our community as we dedicate ourselves to remembering how we compromised liberty in the past. Doing so will help us to guard it more closely in the future. As we commemorate the Day of Remembrance, we must pass H. Res. 56, in support of Japanese-American, German-American, and Italian American communities in their recognizing of this historical day. I also look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2003.

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