On April 27, 2013, the 44th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, sponsored by the Manzanar Committee, was again held at the Manzanar National Historic Site. This year’s pilgrimage was dedicated to former SFVJACL president, the late Tak Yamamoto.
The keynote address was given by Karen Korematsu, daughter of Fred T. Korematsu who co-founded the Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education at the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco. The Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award for 2013 was awarded to Warren Furutani. During the roll call of the camps, Board member and SFVJACC President, Nancy Oda and her sister Ernie Nishi carried the banner representing Tule Lake. Nancy and Ernie wanted to represent their father, Tatsuo Inouye, who was a Judo teacher. Because he answered “no no”, to the loyalty questions while at Poston, Arizona their family was moved to the Segregation Center where he was further confined in the Military Stockade. The two sisters proudly wore their Judogi (uniform). Pastor Ruy Mizuki from the Chatsworth West United Methodist Church participated in the Interfaith Service. Organizations like Kizuna with its leader, Craig Ishii, and Bridging Communities with a contingent of Muslim American youth participated fully. The traditional ondo culminated the
pilgrimage.
In 1977, Manzanar After Dark (MAD) an evening program was created to add inter-generational discussion of the camp experience. Throughout the years the focus continues to be the small group discussions and the involvement of college students in a leadership role is still the heart of the program.
Let’s bring the SFV yonsei and gosei to next year’s 45th pilgrimage and keep the torch for civil rights and
justice burning brightly.
Photo: Rafu Shimpo
The keynote address was given by Karen Korematsu, daughter of Fred T. Korematsu who co-founded the Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education at the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco. The Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award for 2013 was awarded to Warren Furutani. During the roll call of the camps, Board member and SFVJACC President, Nancy Oda and her sister Ernie Nishi carried the banner representing Tule Lake. Nancy and Ernie wanted to represent their father, Tatsuo Inouye, who was a Judo teacher. Because he answered “no no”, to the loyalty questions while at Poston, Arizona their family was moved to the Segregation Center where he was further confined in the Military Stockade. The two sisters proudly wore their Judogi (uniform). Pastor Ruy Mizuki from the Chatsworth West United Methodist Church participated in the Interfaith Service. Organizations like Kizuna with its leader, Craig Ishii, and Bridging Communities with a contingent of Muslim American youth participated fully. The traditional ondo culminated the
pilgrimage.
In 1977, Manzanar After Dark (MAD) an evening program was created to add inter-generational discussion of the camp experience. Throughout the years the focus continues to be the small group discussions and the involvement of college students in a leadership role is still the heart of the program.
Let’s bring the SFV yonsei and gosei to next year’s 45th pilgrimage and keep the torch for civil rights and
justice burning brightly.
Photo: Rafu Shimpo