“And Then They Came for Us” film about WWII Japanese American Internment at UA Student Union on Feb. 19

“As members of the Trump administration have raised the specter of a Muslim registry and instituted an immigration ban against people from Muslim majority countries, they have cited the unconstitutional incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II as the precedent. As the documentary And Then They Came for Us demonstrates, the registration and incarceration of Japanese Americans was one of the worst violations of constitutional rights in American history. The U.S. government lied about the threat of espionage to justify the incarceration. Not a single person was ever convicted of espionage or treason. As we commemorate the 77th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 which was signed by President Roosevelt on Feb. 19, 1942, the film documents through the use of photos taken by Dorothea Lange and others, the damage this order did to 120,000 people, two thirds of whom were American citizens. Featuring George Takei and many others who were incarcerated, And Then They Came for Us. “

. This event is led by APA Community Council in collaboration with APASA, Initiatives for Organizational Inclusion, Japanese American Student Association,  and efforts to push for #APAStudiesby2020.

Student Union Memorial Center is at 1303 E. University Blvd. on the UA campus.

Carolyn’s note: Panel discussion to follow, with me as a participant having been the Legislative Aide to US Senator Dan Inouye, who was instrumental in pushing through the bill that created the National Commission on Wartime Relocation & Internment of Civilians, which investigated this wrong in the 1980’s, leading to the reparation of $20,000/internee in 1988.

“Spirit of the Land” painting exhibit opens at Yume Japanese Gardens on Feb. 7

““Spirit of the Land” opens in the Art Gallery on February 7, 2020, with a reception for artist Emily King from 5 to 7 pm. Because the reception is being held after business hours, Yume’s gardens and museum will NOT be open to visitors at that time.

In her work, King explores the concept of tamashii – the way that Japanese culture is moved by the spirit of a place, a sight, or a being, enabling glimpses of life through moments of wonder and awe. At times realistic, at times dreamlike, her pieces capture the world of the soul as well as the mind.

The show runs until May 1, and all paintings in the exhibition are for sale.”

www.yumegardens.org, 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson

Japanese American Student Association forming at U Arizona

JASA – Japanese American Student Assn. first general meeting on Jan. 30 at UA Nugent Building

Meeting will be on the 2nd floor, room 210 where the Asian Pacific American Student Affairs (APASA) office is located. Open to all Japanese American students. Nugent Bldg, is at 1212 E. University Blvd., just southeast of Old Main.

Info: vsato1@email.arizona.edu