Liberty Lost; Lessons in Loyalty; Re-enactment of Japanese-American Internment During WWII
15 years ago, Nicole, Jaclyn and I worked with the JACL (Japanese American Citizen’s League) to re-enact the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.
Back in 2002, it was the 60th anniversary (now it’s been 75 years) since the American government made our families leave our homes, businesses, belongings, and friends to live behind barbed wire at one of 10 internment camps in the US.
We worked with Mas and Marcia Hashimoto (presidents of JACL Watsonville-Santa Cruz), Sandy Lydon (local historian), and Don Williams (UCSC theater director) to re-enact an event that would remind the world of one of America’s biggest mistakes. Mas rented a 1942 bus and Don coached the actors as they walked to the Vet’s Memorial and waited in line to get on the bus to start their 3-year stay in relocation centers. Sandy was our emcee and shared stories about the evacuation.
Nicole told news reporters about how she was worried about her family’s farm and who would maintain it while they were gone. Jaclyn held tight to her beloved dog before the MPs took him away from her before she climbed up the steps of the bus. Dozens of families participated in the re-enactment, and we filled the theater with guest speakers who shared their memories and stories.
I invited over 40 newspapers, magazines and TV stations to cover the story, and our re-enactment was aired across the nation and all the way to Japanese news outlets in Japan. Watch our video: Liberty Lost; Lessons in Loyalty.
