JACL Weekly Digest

March 18, 2025

JACL National News

JACL Condemns Trump Administration’s Unlawful Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act

March 17, 2025

On March 15th, 2025, President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting foreign nationals from Venezuela who are alleged members of the Trend de Aragua criminal organization. The Alien Enemies Act was last used to intern 31,000 Japanese, German, and Italian nationals during WWII. As the Japanese American community knows, the scope was expanded to include United States citizens through Executive Order 9066 leading to the incarceration of over 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry. We fear that the Venezuelan immigrant community is now being similarly targeted through the unlawful use and expansion of the Alien Enemies Act.

JACL Calls for Immediate Restoration of 100th/442nd History to the U.S. Army Website - UPDATE 3/18/25

March 14, 2025

JACL is deeply alarmed and disappointed by the removal of web pages honoring the history and accomplishments of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the broader contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the U.S. Army. 

The 100th and 442nd remain the most decorated military units in U.S. history for their size and length of service. Their heroism, despite the racism and incarceration their families faced at home, is a testament to their loyalty and sacrifice, as is their unit motto, “Go For Broke.” When the war ended in 1945, President Harry Truman addressed the 100th/442nd on the White House grounds and remarked, “You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice--and you have won.” The removal of their history from the Army’s website is not just an administrative decision—it is an attempt to erase the legacy of thousands of soldiers who gave everything for a country that doubted them.

UPDATE: A spokesperson for the Army stated that "Content on the 442nd Infantry Regiment and Nisei Soldiers were featured on the Army’s Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders heritage webpage, which has been taken down in accordance with Presidential Executive Orders and OSD guidance. Articles related to the 442nd Infantry Regiment will be republished once we have had the opportunity to redesign and reorganize content to better align with current guidance." 

In response to the outcry from countless members of our community and other supporters, the Army has since re-uploaded information about the 442nd on its official website. However, instead of restoring it as a dedicated page, the content has been republished as an article, making it harder to find and less permanent than before. Additionally, pages dedicated to other AANHPI soldiers and other marginalized communities remain absent.

While partially restoring this information is a step in the right direction, it does not fully correct what has occurred. The histories of many other marginalized communities who bravely served our nation are still excluded. We urge the Army to fully restore these pages and properly honor and recognize all those who have served.

JACL Alarmed by Actions Against the Department of Education

March 13, 2025

The JACL is extremely alarmed by a series of actions regarding the suggested elimination of the Department of Education. While there have been rumors and reports of an upcoming Executive Order to be issued by President Trump to dismantle the Department, the Reduction in Force (RIF) announcement issued [last] week is an alarming step in this direction. Besides announcing the layoffs of nearly 2,000 department staff, it also mentions that the department has a “final mission,” which this RIF is a part of. This action continues the dangerous trend of the administration to be rid of any departments, policies, agencies, etc, that are a danger to their political agenda. 

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!" 

2025 JACL National Scholarships! General and Arts Applications Due April 4!

JACL Organizational Sign-Ons

• LCCHR - National Civil and Human Rights Organizations Urge Senate to Reject Dhillon’s Nomination to Lead Civil Rights Division

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

Oakland Premiere of Kintsukuroi

Announcing the Oakland premiere of the new film, Kintsukuroi, which chronicles the lives of Japanese American families in the Bay Area and the impacts of Executive Order 9066 during World War II that changed the lives of 120,000 people and the landscape of the East Bay and the entire West Coast. A short Q&A and educator curriculum workshop will follow the screening!

Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025

Location: The Oakland Museum Theater, 1000 Oak Street

General Admission: $25 | Tickets at the Door (if available): $30

Schedule:

12:30 pm - Doors open for check-in

1:00 pm - KINTSUKUROI screening begins

3:15 pm - Q&A following the film

3:45 - 4:45 pm - Educator Curriculum Workshop

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/kintsukuroi-oakland-premiere

27th Annual Freedom Walk in Washington, D.C.

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

JACL Monterey Nakayoshi - Curators' Tour

From Our Partners

JAMsj "Letters from the Camps" Exhibit and Special Program on March 29

From JAMsj:

Join us as we celebrate the Letters from the Camp exhibit with a special program that provides deeper insights into the exhibit’s research and translation process. Project members will introduce the lives of the Ono family and their friends during incarceration, using materials that were not included in the exhibit due to space limitations. Additionally, we will share historical documents and artifacts that have surfaced since the exhibit’s launch.

• Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
• Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Exhibit open until 5:00 PM)
• Location: JAMsj, 2nd Floor Activity Room
• Format: Hybrid (In-person & Online via Zoom)
• Language: English (Japanese script available upon request)
• Admission: Free (Donations are welcomed!)
•  Reserve your spot now: RSVP Form (In-person & Zoom)

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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