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The late Fred T. Korematsu with daughter Karen Korematsu

On December 18, 2019 through January 30, 2020, the Fred T. Korematsu Institute and Advancing Justice | AAJC are joining forces in the name of fighting for justice and equality. Together, the Institute and AAJC commemorating the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Korematsu v. United States which upheld the forced incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

In 1942, at the age of 23, Fred Korematsu refused to go to the government’s incarceration camps for Japanese Americans. After he was arrested and convicted of defying the government’s order, he appealed his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against him and upheld the legality of the incarceration. Four decades later, in 1983, Korematsu’s conviction was overturned. Korematsu remained an activist throughout his life and in 2010, the state of California passed the Fred Korematsu Day bill, making January 30 his birthday and the first day in the U.S. named after an Asian American. The Fred T. Korematsu Institute was founded by Korematsu’s daughter, Karen Korematsu, to carry on her father’s legacy.

Advancing Justice | AAJC is the voice for the Asian American community fighting for civil rights through education, litigation, and public policy advocacy. AAJC serves to empower Asian American communities by bringing local and national constituencies together and ensuring Asian Americans are able to participate fully in our democracy. Rooted in the dreams of immigrants and inspired by the promise of opportunity, Advancing Justice | AAJC advocates for an America in which all Americans can benefit equally from, and contribute to, the American dream.

Fred Korematsu with Rosa Parks (Photo: California Historical Society)

Sharing similar missions of advancing civil and human rights for all, the Korematsu Institute and Advancing Justice | AAJC are committed to educating and upholding our democracy. "Advancing Justice | AAJC is the voice for our communities and Korematsu’s legacy continues to grow and inspire people of all backgrounds and demonstrate the importance of speaking up to fight injustice," says Karen Korematsu, daughter of the late Fred Korematsu, and Founder & Executive Director of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute.

To support the ongoing fight for justice and equality, the Fred T. Korematsu Institute and Advancing Justice | AAJC ask you to make a donation in any multiple of 75, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary – whether that is $7.50, $75, $750, $7,500 or higher, no donation is too small or too large. All donations will be shared equally between our two organizations, says John C. Yang President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC

This campaign runs from December 18, 2019, marking the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Korematsu v. United States through January 30, 2020, marking Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. Learn more about the campaign.

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