California apologises to Japanese Americans for World War II internment camps
- After unanimously passing the resolution, lawmakers hugged and shook hands with victims
- 120,000 Japanese Americans were held at internment camps because the US government feared some would side with Tokyo
The California Assembly apologised on Thursday for discriminating against Japanese Americans and helping the US government send them to internment camps during World War II.
The Assembly unanimously passed the resolution as several former internees and their families looked on. After the votes, lawmakers gathered at the entrance of the chamber to hug and shake hands with victims, including 96-year-old Kiyo Sato.
Sato said young people need to know about the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps because the US government feared some would side with Japan. The US entered World War II after Japan bombed the Navy base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.
“We need to remind them that this cannot happen again,” Sato said.
The resolution came a day after Governor Gavin Newsom declared February 19 a Day of Remembrance. That is the date in 1942 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order that led to the imprisonment of Japanese Americans across 10 camps in the West and Arkansas.
The governors of Idaho and Arkansas also proclaimed it a Day of Remembrance, and events were held nationwide.