A group of Congress members have introduced a bill to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Fred Korematsu, who was held in a Japanese incarceration camp during World War II.
Born in Oakland to Japanese immigrants, Korematsu was sent to a Utah camp for speaking out against the imprisonment of fellow Japanese Americans and for refusing arrest, according to KSL. Though he challenged and appealed his detention to the Supreme Court, the decision was upheld in 1944. It was overturned almost 40 years later in 1983.
Korematsu passed away in 2005 at 86-years-old.
In a bipartisan effort, Reps. Mark Takano (D-CA), Celeste Maloy (R-UT), Young Kim (R-CA) and Vince Fong (R-CA) introduced “The Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act” to posthumously award the late activist. The honor is on the basis of his “contributions to civil rights, his loyalty and patriotism to the nation and his dedication to justice and equality,” a statement said.
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Senate companion of the bill.
This is not the first bill introduced to award Korematsu, LAist reported. Takano had sponsored the last three with support from other AAPI Democrats, especially from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. The recent bill has GOP backing for the first time.
In addition to a potential Congressional Gold Medal, Korematsu may also have his own namesake day.
Takano reintroduced another bill to nationally observe Fred Korematsu Day. California and six other states acknowledge the day on Jan. 30.
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Heyllo Jane!
Heyllo Randall!
Thank you for your always excellent coverage on issues concerning Asian Americans and I especially appreciated this article on Fred Korematsu, so close to his !/30 day!
I am writing with the correction in how we, as Americans of Asian descent, need to cease the use of the descriptive ‘Japanese incarceration survivor’. Fred Korematsu was AMERICAN and was a survivor of AMERICA’s incarceration/concentration camps. We must get away from the description of the survivors of these camps, and correctly address the government who erected these camps. The blame is on the US government, the American government, in a time where it admitted to ‘racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and the failure of political leadership’.
The use of ‘Japanese incarceration survivor’ means that a survivor of incarceration by and run by the Japanese government, not the American government. The survivors of America’s concentration camps were 2/3 American citizens, that is what makes this distinction so important, even more importantly now. And the sad truth is, the majority of Americans now, still do not know our own history.
Change happens in all places, but here on As Am Mews, this must be a place of information and truth, we must correct to the truth, and the truth is, America incarcerated its own citizens, and Fred Korematsu was one of them and he fought against its actions. That is why we celebrate Fred Korematsu.
Thank you for your attention –
Tamlyn Tomita
Good points, Tamlyn. We have adjusted the story to address your concerns. Thank you for all your work with and for the community.