mat

FRED KOREMATSU DAY 30, 2011

WHEREAS, on Pebruary 19, 1942, Pn::sident Franklin D. Roosevelt issued authorizitlg the Secretary of War 10 establish military zones itl the westem United States that forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans itllo itltemment camps; and

WHEREAS, Fred Toyosaburo Koremalsu, who was born in Oakland, on January 30, 1919 to Japanese immigrant pareJJlS, chose at the age of 23 to live as an Amaican cimen and defy orders 10 report to an assembly ccoter. Fred Korern.1tsu was arrested in San Leandro, California on May 30, 1942 aod was Later COnvicted in Federal Court of violarillg military orders; and

WHEREAS, and his family were incarcerated at the Tanforan Race Track Assembly Center in San Bruno, California living in horse stalls that smelled of !lUnure and urine. They weee relocated 10 the internment camp in the dcseet of Topaz, Urab where they were surrounded by hca.vil.y armed U.S. Army troops in watchtowers; and

WHEREAS, Fred KoremalSu, believing thaI his MJCSI and internment infringed upon his freedoms as an American citizen, appealed his case to tbe United SlAtes Suprt>me COw:1. In December 1944, the Court ruled against him, Slatitlg thaI the ·incarceration was a "military necessity" and nor based on racial discrimination; and

WHEREAS, in 1980, lJres;dent Jin1my Carte!" appointed the Commission on Waetime Relocation and Inlernment of Civilians. The federal 1cview concluded thar Japanese Americans were wrongfully mC>lrcerated in the inteouneol Cl.mps during World War II. On November 10, 1983, the U.S. District Couet of Nonhern California in San flmilciseo fonnally ovettumcd feed Koremalsu's conviction; and

WHEREAS, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed rhe Civil Liberties Act which included an official apology from the U.S. GoVeromffil; and

WHEREAS, in 1998, President Bill Clinton aw.rrded Fred KOrel\1at5u the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Fred KorematsU continued to advocate for civil liben:ics until he passed away on March 30, 200S at Ihe age of86; and

WHEREAS, 00 September 26, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwanenegger signed into law Assembly Bill )775, csrablishing January 30, the birthday of Fred Korematsu, as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and Ihe Constitution in theSlale ofCaJifomia.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that, rhis Board of Supervisors, 5me ofC.'\liforoia, County of Alameda does hereby proclaim January 30, 2011 as Fred. Korcma\su Day.

NATE MILE.Y, PRESJDENT KEm·t CARSON. VICE PR I.'~~JDENT SUPERVISOR, fOUR1l-I DISTRICf SUPER.VL~OR> flFTH DJSTRlCf

SC01T HAGGERn' SU PER VI SOR, FIJ\ST OJ STRIcr

NAOIA LOCKYER SUPERVISOR, SECOND orsnucr

WU.MACHAN SUPERVISOR, 1l-IrRD DJSTRrCr

SUSAN So MURANISI-fi COUNn' ADM1NIST\l.J\TOR