Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie has signed a bill declaring the birthday of civil rights icon Fred Korematsu “Civil Liberties and Constitution Day.”
Korematsu’s daughter attending the bill signing ceremony. Korematsu is one of three Japanese Americans who challenged the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II in court. He was convicted and sentenced to prison.
His conviction was finally overturned by the federal court in 1983 when attorneys uncovered information that prosecutors had suppressed evidence that Japanese Americans posed no security risk to the United States.
Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day (January 30) will serve to recognize and remind us of the courage of those who remained committed to freedom, even when their own civil liberties and rights were being challenged,” said Gov. Abercrombie. “It is the actions of these individuals – these brave ‘resisters’ – that best reflect the ideals of the U.S. Constitution.”
