2013 / Fred Korematsu Day in Torrance, Jan 26

Late Fred Korematsu and his daughter Karen Korematsu (Photo by Shirley Nakao, courtesy of the Korematsu Institute)

Fred Korematsu Day in Torrance

Saturday, January 26, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Katy Geissert Civic Center Library

330 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503

Fred Korematsu Day in Torrance is sponsored by the Great LA Singles, South Bay and Torrance Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California, and Torrance Public Library.

Keynote Speaker: Karen Korematsu, daughter of Fred and Kathryn Korematsu, is the co-founder of the Fred T. Koremastu Institute for Civic Rights and Education. She is also a board member of the Asian Law Caucus, the Institute’s parent organization, as well as the Asian American Justice Center.

For more information, contact Alayne Yonemoto at (310) 266-3398 or send email TorranceJACL@gmail.com

This event is free to the public. Seating is first come, first seated.

+

Fred Korematsu Day in Pasadena

Saturday, January 26, 10 am – 12 noon

McKinley School Auditorium

325 South Oak Knoll, Pasadena, CA 91101

(free parking across the streets)

Registration begins at 9:30 am.

Program

Welcome Speech by Bill Bogaard, Mayor of Pasadena

Karen Korematsu, daughter of Fred Korematsu

Documentary “Of Civil Wrongs & Rights, The Fred Korematsu Story”

Tule Lake Presentation by Yukio Kawaratani and Phil Shigekuni

Photography Exhibit “Internment Camp Photos 1942 – 1946” by Stone Ishimaru

Light refreshments will be served.

Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution is the first day in U.S. history named after an Asian American. It is celebrated every January 30 on Mr. Korematsu’s birthday. The Fred Korematsu day bill, AB1775, was signed into law by then California Governor Arnold Schwarzengger on September 23, 2010.

For more information, contact Wendy Anderson at (626) 683-8243 or wowproductions2@earthlink.net

+

A Celebration of Life: Remembering Tak Yamamoto

Saturday, January 26, 6:30 pm

San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center

12953 Branford Street, Pacoima, CA 91331

Takenori “Tak” Yamamoto served as president of the Asian and Pacific Islanders for LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Equality, and was one of the founders and long-time president of the Asian/Pacific Lesbian and Gays (now Asian/Pacific Gays and Friends) in Los Angeles, an organization formed to fight discrimination against Asian and Pacific Islanders. It remains the oldest active group of its type in the U.S.

During his tenure as president of the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Citizens League, Yamamoto was open about his sexual orientation, refusing to allow it to be an obstacle to his work, and in 1994, he was instrumental in pushing the National JACL to support same-sex marriage.

Yamamoto is best known for his leadership in the Manzanar Committee, sponsor of the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage since 1969, and more recently, the Manzanar At Dusk program since 1997.

Yamamoto died on November 9, 2012.

Dress for the event, which is free and open to the public, is casual. For more information, call (323) 662-5102, or send email info@manzanarcommittee.org

+

Ventura County JACL, the installation of the 2013 board members

Sunday, February 3, 12:30 pm

China Dynasty Restaurant

2855 Johnson Drive, #J, Ventura (805) 642-8858

Guest speaker: Lily Anne Yumi Welty, Ph.D.

Welty has taught Japanese American History and Asian American History at University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), and will teach a class on Multiracial Asian American at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2013.

Luncheon costs $25 per person. Reservation by January 28. For more information, call Anne Chilcott at (805) 492-0146 or send email venturacountyjacl@hotmail.com

+