Korematsu Lives

The first time I read about Fred Korematsu was from Bill Wang's book Yellow Journalism. I learned the history of his courage to stand up against the racist Executive Order 9066 that imprisoned 120,000 Japanese and Japnese Americans in concentration camps during World War I.

I remember telling some friends that we don't have any role models in the Asian American community and in history books.

Mr. Korematsu's herculean determination to fight for his constitutional rights as a Japanese American and his exoneration is an inspiration to me. I almost cry when I read about the reaction in the courtroom after U.S. District Judge Patel vacated Mr. Korematsu's conviction.

It's said that if you forget history, it may repeat itself. That's why it's imperative that we remember Mr. Korematsu's courageous act of fighting for the rights of all Americans.

We cannot forget the imprisonment of 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans. As it is, the same history is plaguing the Afghan and Middle Eastern prisoners being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Fred Korematsu lives!