Fighting for Civil Rights: The Japanese-American and Latino Experience

The Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) presents:

Day of Remembrance Event

From concentration camps to anti-immigrant prejudice, American civil liberties have been compromised over the years. Learn the challenges of Japanese-Americans and Latinos and find out how we can learn from those experiences. Leaders from the Latino and Japanese-American communities will discuss parallel civil rights challenges and lessons learned.

The short film, Stand Up for Justice: The Ralph Lazo Story will be shown. The film tells the story of a young Latino who followed his Japanese-American friends to Manzanar Internment Camp.

Leaders from the Latino and Japanese American communities will discuss parallel civil rights challenges and lessons learned. Scheduled speakers include:

Mari Watanabe, Executive Director of the Oregon Nikkei Endowment, who provide the historical background of Executive Order 9066, which ordered the evacuation of all persons of Japanese descent from the West Coast.

Alice Sumida, a longtime Portland resident will tell her unique experience during internment.

Henry Sakamoto, President of the Japanese Ancestral Society of Portland, will discuss his internment experience.

Gilbert Carrasco, Willamette University Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Sexuality and Discrimination professor and member of the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, will speak on Latino issues.

Martin Gonzalez, Limited English Proficiency Outreach Coordinator with Tri-Met, Portland Public Schools board member, and Board President of the Latino Network will speak on Latino issues.

Co-sponsored by the ACLU of Oregon, Portland JACL, Portland State University, Latino Network and Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Program.