Slate has pulled out of its history vault a form letter used by some Japanese Americans to resist the draft during WWII.
Most Japanese Americans proudly served in the military as evidenced by the incredible contributions of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Batalion and Military Intelligence Service.
But others made the equally brave choice of standing up to the contradictions between the principles of the US Constitution and the incarceration of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast.
Kiyoshi Okamoto was one of the leaders of the resistance movement at Heart Mountain (pictured) in Wyoming. He urged Nisei to resist the draft. He was one of seven leaders convicted of violating the Selective Service Act.
They were all sentenced to four years in prison, but their sentences were ultimately overturned on appeal in 1946.
A form letter used to resist the draft was entered into evidence against them.
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The letter read in part:
I believe my first duty, as a true and loyal citizen of this Nation, is the correction of the evils against the Constitution and the Democratic practices through denial of us of justice, freedom and due process of law before recognizing your right of jurisdiction over me…
I ask your board (selective service) thereby to withhold further acts against me after after such time as my citizenship status and rights are clarified by judicial pronouncement and Congressional Act.
You can read the entire letter in Slate.
