Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution

The sixth annual Fred Korematsu Day Celebration hosted by the Humboldt Pacific Islanders & Asians (HAPI) on Jan. 30, was a great success. The celebration, which included performances by the San Jose Taiko Swing Group and the Humboldt State University’s Orchestra Band saw a record-breaking attendance of over 150 participants. The audience included Humboldt State students, faculty, staff and community members. 

The online Zoom celebration lasted for two hours. The event included an educational presentation about the life and legacy of Fred Korematsu, musical and theatrical performances from San Jose Taiko Swing, Humboldt State University’s Orchestra Band, and an open discourse for audience members to participate in sharing reactions or questions regarding the presentations. 

The event, which commemorated the impact of Korematsu, resonated heavily with many audience members. The late civil rights leader is celebrated posthumously for defying the internment order for Japanese Americans during the second World War. Fred Korematsu is hailed as a hero and an activist by many, especially by those who were in attendance for the event.

Many audience members expressed their content and joy for the presentation overall. Additionally, many felt a strong sense of community in being able to relate and express themselves to cultural and social aspects of the presentation. 

The Fred Korematsu Day event was hailed to be “the highlight of their day” by many audience members. It was evident that the event was a great success, despite it being on a virtual medium for the first time.

Feature image by Mark Larson on Feb. 1, 2020