Thank you to everyone who attended our Virtual Pilgrimage to Manzanar on Saturday, April 25, 2020. This project was initiated after we cancelled our actual trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In it’s place we held a VIRTUAL journey to learn about the Japanese American World War II incarceration. Over 600 people attended our livestreamed event.

Recorded Presentations:

Our friends at J-Town Community TV captured the presentations. Click on thumbnails below to view the recordings.

Featured

A Virtual Tour of Manzanar

Tamiko Thiel and Zara Houshmand, creators of "Beyond Manzanar" virtual reality art exhibit, gave us a guided tour. Created back in 2000, this presentation transported us to the Manzanar site and drew parallels between the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans and recent issues of racism, Islamophobia, and hate-mongering, with a focus on the Iranian American experience during the hostage crisis of 1979-81.

CLICK HERE for additional background materials

Panel Discussion: I Remember...

Former incarcerees shared their memories of life in the camps, as well as the treatment they experienced when returning home after the war. Panelists: Koichi Nishimura (Manzanar), Tom Oshidari (Rowher), Marge Taniwaki (Manzanar), Marielle Tsukamoto (Jerome), and Christine Umeda (Tule Lake and Topaz).

CLICK HERE to request information on Mary Tsukamoto’s Book, We The People: A Story of Internment in America

Fighting for Redress: Then and Now

San Jose-based activists Susan Hayase and Tom Izu shared their experiences in the fight for redress and reparations for the former incarcerees. They discussed how the pilgrimages to Tule Lake and Manzanar led to the grassroots organizing effort that supported this movement. Their son, Tomio Hayase-Izu, spoke about his work with the Nikkei Resisters, including support of HR 40, a bill to establish the formation of a commission to discuss redress for slavery.

Bystander Intervention Training

Courtney Mangus of the Council on American Islamic Relations SF Bay Area taught us how to intervene when we witness a hate crime or hate incident. In this session participants we learned the principles of non-violence and the hands-on skills of de-escalation.

If you are interested in hosting your own Bystander Intervention Training, request a virtual training by CLICKING HERE.

Support Future Programs by Purchasing a T-Shirt by May 4th!

Due to overwhelming demand, we needed to upgrade our webinar subscription. To help cover these costs, we launched a commemorative t-shirt fundraiser. This shirt was originally intended to be printed for our San Jose JACL pilgrims to wear to the original Manzanar Pilgrimage. Since our pilgrimage was made available worldwide, we invite you to purchase one for yourself!

HOORAY! WE HAVE MET OUR INITIAL GOAL!

We are keeping the fundraiser open to support future San Jose JACL programs! (Note: You may also use the button below make a donation without a t-shirt purchase)

Our t-shirt was designed by Courtney Shojinaga who was inspired by the traditional Japanese embroidery style called Sashiko. Sashiko or "little stabs" traditionally uses white thread on indigo blue cloth to create geometric patterns. The design on the front of the t-shirt features the iconic monument at the Manzanar National Historic Site. The design on the back of the t-shirt features three women of color wearing their culture's traditional clothing with classic sashiko geometric patterns.

Click Here to Purchase or Donate