The Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education is excited to celebrate Korematsu Day 2013 by honoring 16 American civil rights heroes who’ve been long overlooked (see list below). This will be a historic gathering of civil rights heroes and the descendants of heroes who have passed on.
The event also features celebrity emcee DANNY GLOVER, actor, community activist and humanitarian, as well as a special performance by American Idol star and international recording artist JASMINE TRIAS.
WHEN: Sunday, January 27, 2013. 1:00pm VIP reception with honorees, 2:30-4:30pm program
WHERE: Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102
TICKETS: Available for purchase at: http://bit.ly/
VIP reception with honorees + program admission $25 program general admission $10 senior (65+)/student/youth admission
WEB SITE: http://
MORE INFO: email info@korematsuinstitute.or
HONOREES:
1. FRED KOREMATSU: Plaintiff who challenged the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans in the US Supreme Court. Karen Korematsu will represent her father at the event.
2. GRACE LEE BOGGS: Chinese American grassroots activist for pan-ethnic social justice movements. Ms. Boggs is unable to attend the event.
3. MITSUYEÂ ENDO: Plaintiff who challenged the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans in the US Supreme Court. Wayne Tsutsumi and Wendy Weiner will represent their mother at the event.
4. FILIPINO WWII VETERANOS: Filipino soldiers who fought for the US against Japanese forces during WWII but were later denied US military benefits. Veterano Alberto Saldajeno will represent this honoree group at the event.
5. GORDONÂ HIRABAYASHI: Plaintiff who challenged the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans in the US Supreme Court. Jay Hirabayashi will represent his father at the event.
6. INTERNMENT DISSENTERS: “No Nos,†draft resisters and renunciants who challenged the WWII incarceration and mistreatment of Japanese Americans. “No-No†Hiroshi Kashiwagi will represent this honoree group at the event.
7. LARRY ITLIONG: Filipino American organizer and coalition builder in California’s farm labor movement. Johnny Itliong will represent his father at the event.
8. JAPANESE AMERICAN WWII VETERANS: Soldiers who fought bravely in segregated WWII military units in the face of racism at home. MIS veteran Asa Hanamoto will represent this honoree group at the event.
9. YURI KOCHIYAMA: Japanese American grassroots activist for pan-ethnic social justice movements. Audee Kochiyama-Holman will represent her mother at the event.
10. QUEEN LILI‘UOKALANI: Last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii and advocate for Hawaiian sovereignty. The Queen’s descendants will not be attending the event.
11. DOLLAR STORE STRIKERS: Women labor activists who launched one of the longest-running strikes in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Mervyn Lee, son of striker Sue Koh Lee, will represent this honoree group at the event.
12. MAMIE TAPE: Chinese American child plaintiff in landmark case reinforcing equal access to education. Alisa Kim will represent her aunt at the event.
13. BHAGAT SINGH THIND: Sikh American plaintiff in US Supreme Court case examining race-based citizenship. David Bhagat Thind will represent his father at the event.
14. PHILIP VERA CRUZ: Filipino American founding member of the United Farm Workers and defender of workers’ rights. Fernando Gapasin will represent his uncle at the event.
15. WONG KIM ARK: Chinese American plaintiff in US Supreme Court case affirming birthright citizenship. The Wong family has not confirmed if they will attend the event
16. MIN YASUI: Plaintiff who challenged the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans in the US Supreme Court. Serena Hawkins-Schletzbaum and Chani Hawkins-Walker will represent their grandfather at the event.
If you know any living members of the group honorees (Internment Dissenters, 1938 Chinatown Dollar Store Strikers, Japanese American WWII Veterans, or Filipino American Veteranos), please have them call us at 415-848-7737 or info@korematsuinstitute.or
MEDIA CO-SPONSORS: Angry Asian Man, APEX Express, KPFA 94.1FM, AsianWeek Foundation, Diya TV, Japanese City, KAXT Channel 1, Nichi Bei Weekly, Philippine News, Radio Campesina, Rafu Shimpo