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From Executive Director Tom Ikeda
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Dear friends,
Next week marks the 78th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of 120,000 citizens and immigrants of Japanese descent during WWII. I find myself thinking about the families and individuals whose lives were disrupted and forever changed, about everything that was lost — or taken — along the way. I believe the best way to honor this history is by fighting for a world where no one has to face the injustice and cruelty of race-based incarceration ever again. To remember is more than just a passive commemoration; it’s also keeping our history alive as a contemporary call to action.
For this year’s Day of Remembrance, I want to be the ally to targeted communities that my parents and grandparents didn’t have in 1942. On February 23rd, Densho will be co-hosting a “Day of Remembrance, Day of Action” at the Northwest Detention Center, where right now hundreds of immigrants are imprisoned in substandard conditions, separated from their families and communities. I hope you will join me in activating our history to stand up against government wrongdoings today by joining our action at NWDC or getting involved in your local community.
With gratitude,
Tom
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Day of Remembrance, Day of Action
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Join Tsuru for Solidarity, La Resistencia, Densho, and Seattle JACL for "Day of Remembrance, Day of Action" at Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington on February 23, 2020 from 12:30-2:30.
We have some powerful speakers and performers lined up for February 23rd, including organizers from La Resistencia, musician Kishi Bashi, and some incredible local taiko performers. We will also be joined by Tsuru For Solidarity co-founders Satsuki Ina and Mike Ishii, and national leadership from the
Detention Watch Network
.
We're looking for volunteers to help with carpools, peacekeeping, and sign-making. There are also several opportunities to join in
tsuru
folding parties.
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Archives Spotlight: Frank Abe Collection
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Photo proof sheet from the first Day of Remembrance, Seattle 1978. Courtesy of the Frank Abe Collection.
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We’re excited to share a new addition to our archives! The
Frank Abe Collection
covers important milestones in the understanding of the complexity and significance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, as well as the struggle to amplify those stories. In developing his acclaimed documentary "Conscience and the Constitution," Abe interviewed the original members of the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee and other resisters. He was also part of the group that helped organize the first Days of Remembrance in Seattle and Portland, and as a journalist covered the Gordon Hirabayashi appeal and the redress hearings in the 1980s.
This collection contains a wealth of oral history interviews, documents from the fight for Japanese American redress and reparations, Abe’s research materials, and much more.
Funding for this project was provided, in part, by a grant from
4Culture
.
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Sacramento Oral History Workshop with Tom Ikeda
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Densho Director Tom Ikeda will demonstrate how oral histories document and share Japanese American history, followed by a discussion of how to create an oral history project, as well as the process and techniques of doing an oral history interview.
This event will be held at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento (2401 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95818 / (916) 446-0121).
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Save the Date: March 19th Densho Fundraiser at Super Six!
Seattle friends, join us on March 19 from 4 to 9 p.m. at
Super Six
in Columbia City. This neighborhood restaurant is crafting food, drink, and malasada specials in honor of Densho, as well as donating a portion of the night's proceeds to us. Follow us on
Facebook
or
Instagram
, where we'll be sharing more details soon!
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Oral History Spotlight: George Maeda
George Maeda grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California, where his parents ran a farm. In this clip, he recalls witnessing his father’s arrest by the FBI shortly after Pearl Harbor, and his mother’s decision to violate the travel restrictions imposed on Japanese Americans to visit her sister before they were removed to Manzanar.
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Call for Volunteers: Wing Luke Museum Annual Dinner & Auction
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The Wing Luke Museum is seeking outgoing and energetic volunteers to fill multiple positions at The Wing’s annual dinner and auction. The auction is a vital fundraising event for the museum, and volunteers help us reach our fundraising goal by making it a festive night for our supporters and guests. This year the auction takes place at the Hyatt Regency Seattle.
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