Bill Text: CA ACR16 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Day of Remembrance.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 48-22)

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 39, Statutes of 2011. [ACR16 Detail]

Download: California-2011-ACR16-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: ACR 16	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Eng

                        FEBRUARY 7, 2011

   Relative to a Day of Remembrance.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 16, as introduced, Eng. Day of Remembrance.
   This measure would declare February 19, 2011, as a Day of
Remembrance in order to increase public awareness of the events
surrounding the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during
World War II.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, 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 western states during World War
II; and
   WHEREAS, 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 disruption to family life;
and
   WHEREAS, 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; and
   WHEREAS, 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; and
   WHEREAS, 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; and
   WHEREAS, Nearly 6,000 veterans of Japanese ancestry served with
the Military Intelligence Service and have been credited for
shortening the war by two years by translating enemy battle plans,
defense maps, tactical orders, intercepted messages and diaries, and
interrogating enemy prisoners; and
   WHEREAS, Nearly 40 years after the United States Supreme Court
decisions upholding the convictions of Fred Korematsu, Min Yasui, and
Gordon Hirabayashi for violations 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; and
   WHEREAS, Dale Minami, Peggy Nagae, 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 occurred;
and
   WHEREAS, On August 10, 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; and
   WHEREAS, 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; and
   WHEREAS, 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; now, therefore,
be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
declares February 19, 2011, as a Day of Remembrance in this state to
increase public awareness of the events surrounding the internment of
Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the Governor, the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the State Library, and the California State Archives.