Today is Japanese Latin American Day of Action! Take Part Now!

Campaign For Justice: Redress NOW for Japanese Latin Americans! (CFJ) and the Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project (JPOHP), have invited all of our members to participate in the upcoming Japanese Latin American (JLA) Day of Action, on Thursday, February 24, 2022. They want to flood the White House with calls, urging the Biden Administration to comply with international law and grant redress to Japanese Latin Americans who suffered severe constitutional and human rights violations during WWII. They need our help to make our voices heard.

Background History

During WWII, over 2200 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry – both immigrant residents and citizens – from 13 Latin American countries were kidnapped from their homes and businesses, transported over international borders, and subjected to indefinite detention in US internment camps. Over 800 were used in two hostage exchanges for US citizens held in the war zones of the Far East. Not finding proper justice in the US, the JLAs petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a premier human rights body of the Organization of American States. In 2020, the Commission published its ruling that the US owes redress to the JLAs. It’s been nearly 80 years – NOW is the time for JLA reparations.

Here are some resources for more information:

• Rafu Shimpo article: https://rafu.com/2022/02/phase-2-of-redress-has/

• Politico Magazine article: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/12/05/japanese-latinos-us-war-hostages-history-523711

• CFJ website: https://jlacampaignforjustice.org/

How You Can Help

1) Review CFJ's JLA Day of Action Toolkit: bit.ly/JLADayofAction

2) On February 24: JLA Day of Action

Optimal Call Times: 8am – noon PT / 11am – 3pm ET

--Take 5 Quick Action Steps:

1) Call the White House

2) Email the White House

3) Sign the CFJ Redress Petition to President Biden

4) Post on your Social Media

5) Share with your networks to remind them to take action on this day