JACL Weekly Digest

April 8, 2025

JACL National News

Take Action Against the Alien Enemies Act!

President Trump has now invoked the Alien Enemies Act to target Venezuelan immigrants and already used it to arrest and deport hundreds of people without any due process, only specious accusations based on tattoos and social media posts, but not necessarily actual evidence of criminal activity.

The Supreme Court infamously affirmed the right of the government to take actions to preserve the security of our nation in the cases of Hirabayashi, Korematsu, and Yasui, while also affirming the right to due process in the case of ex parte Endo. The Alien Enemies Act deprives people of that constitutional right to due process affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Together, we can ensure that "Never Again" is more than a promise. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose the President's use of the Alien Enemies Act and co-sponsor the Neighbors Not Enemies Act to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.  

2025 JACL National Convention

Early Bird Registration is Available Now! Register before April 30 to Save!

Join us this Summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from July 17th through 20th for an exciting convention as we celebrate local and national communities coming together with "Voices in Unity!" 

JACL Chapters News

If any JACL Chapters would like to submit stories or events to the Weekly Digest, please send inquiries to Education Programs Manager, Matthew Weisbly at mweisbly@jacl.org

Salt Lake JACL Spring Peace Garden Clean Up!

JACL Arizona Essay Challenge with the Chandler Museum

 The Chandler Museum has partnered with Japanese American Citizens League - Arizona Chapter (JACL-AZ) to invite students to participate in the 2025 Essay Challenge! This contest encourages young writers to explore the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and the importance of protecting civil liberties for all.

Eligibility:
Open to students residing in Arizona who meet ONE of the following criteria:
 Are a member (or have relatives who are a member) of JACL-AZ Chapter, Arizona Buddhist Temple, or Phoenix Life Church.
 Have visited the 2025 Chandler Museum Exhibit, Gaman: Enduring Japanese American Internment at Gila River.

Essay Topics:
Students should submit a well-organized, thought-provoking essay addressing:
 The history and reasons behind Japanese American incarceration during WWII.
 The lessons this history teaches us about justice and equality today.
 Ways to prevent future injustices through laws, education, and civic engagement.
 The significance of this history for all Americans, regardless of background.

Submission Guidelines:
 Grades 4-8: 500-800 words
 Grades 9-12: 1,000-1,500 words
 Typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font
 Must include a bibliography

Deadline: All entries must be submitted by April 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

Details and Submission Link: http://bit.ly/JACLAZ_Essay_Challenge_2025 Or scan the QR code

From Our Partners

"Am I An American Or Am I Not?" Exhibit at the Arizona Capitol Museum this Month

From the Fred T. Korematsu Institute:

In Arizona? Our national traveling exhibit, “Am I An American Or Am I Not?,” opens Wednesday, April 2 at the Arizona Capitol Museum in Phoenix and runs through April 27. The exhibit is named after the question Fred Korematsu asked when faced with criminal charges for violating the military orders to leave his home without due process after Executive Order 9066 during WWII. He joined 125,000 other Japanese Americans at incarceration camps. Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation establishing a “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in 2021, honoring #FredKorematsuDay for the first time in 2022. Learn more about the exhibit here: https://azcapitolmuseum.gov/ 

2025 Heart Mountain Pilgrimage Early Bird Registration Available Now

Eighty years ago, the unjust incarceration of over 14,000 Japanese Americans at Heart Mountain finally came to an end. Yet, the lessons of this dark chapter in history are more relevant than ever. Join us at the 2025 Heart Mountain Pilgrimage as we honor the stories of incarceration, uplift the voices of incarcerees and their descendants, and fortify our community’s strength.

This year’s Pilgrimage will be a powerful gathering, designed to inspire hope and resilience for future generations. Featured events include the premiere of Hello Maggie!, the stamping of the Ireichō, the debut of a compelling short film exploring cultural connections to Heart Mountain, multigenerational discussion groups, a transformative art healing workshop, and the ever-popular Sayonara Banquet.

Come be part of this unforgettable experience—because remembering the past is the key to shaping a just future.

56th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage - April 26th, 2025! 

Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage Registration Available Now!

The Jerome Rohwer Committee and the Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage Planning Committee are thrilled to invite you to register for our upcoming 2025 Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage in Little Rock, AR, May 21-24, 2025.

The Pilgrimage offers camp survivors, descendants, and others the opportunities to connect with fellow Pilgrims from around the globe.  Last year we had Pilgrims from as far east as Europe, and as far west as Hawaii.  You will learn about and discuss the legacy and aftermath of WWII era concentration camps in the USA.  One day of the Pilgrimage is a journey to each concentration camp site in Jerome and Rohwer, where the sacred Ireichō (a book with names of over 125,000 innocent Japanese and Japanese Americans imprisoned during WWII) will be honored and short services will be held.  We will have lunch in McGehee, AR, home to the WWII Japanese Internment Museum, followed by a program that includes taiko drummers and a short Obon festival to honor the spirits of our ancestors.  There will be two full days of programming in Little Rock, with historical sessions, survivor perspectives, generational and intergenerational discussions, social activities, and opportunities to research family histories and to stamp the sacred Ireichō.  Learning and open conversation leads to understanding and healing.  

50th Amache Pilgrimage Registration Available Now!

This year, the Full Amache Pilgrimage will take place in the Amache area from the evening of Friday May 16 to midday Sunday May 18, with additional events hosted by Amache Alliance, the University of Denver Amache Project, National Parks Conservation Association, Colorado Preservation Inc., and the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation. There will also be events earlier in the week in Denver at the Denver Art Museum and History Colorado Center. PLEASE NOTE: you will need your own transportation to attend these events.

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