Fred Korematsu Day facts for kids
The Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution is a special day celebrated on January 30. It happens in California and more states are joining in. This day honors the birthday of Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American who fought for civil rights. He is famous for standing up against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. You can learn more about his case in Korematsu v. US. This day also helps us remember our important civil liberties and rights under the Constitution of the United States. It's the first day in U.S. history named after an Asian American.
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How Fred Korematsu Day Started
The idea for Fred Korematsu Day began in New York City. They signed a law for it in 2008. Then, in California, the governor at the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed a similar law on September 23, 2010. Lawmakers in California voted for it without anyone disagreeing.
The first official celebration of this day happened in 2011. It took place at the University of California, Berkeley. Special learning materials were also given to teachers. These materials helped them teach students about Fred Korematsu and civil liberties.
Working Towards a National Day
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights suggested that Fred Korematsu Day should become a national holiday in 2015. This would mean it's celebrated across the entire country.
The effort to make it a national day is still going on. In January 2023, a plan was introduced in the United States Congress. Representatives Mark Takano and Jill Tokuda in the U.S. House, and Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth in the Senate, led this effort. Many other members of Congress also spoke out in support of the idea.
Other States Join In
After California started celebrating, other states began to recognize Fred Korematsu Day too.
Some states have passed laws to celebrate Fred Korematsu Day every year. These include Hawaii (in 2013), Virginia (2015), Florida (2016), New York (2018), and Arizona (2021).
Fred Korematsu Day was also celebrated in Illinois in 2014. It's not clear if that celebration continued past that year. Other states like Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Utah have also honored the day. South Carolina has even introduced a bill to their lawmakers to recognize it.
Special Ways to Remember
In 2017, Google honored Fred Korematsu Day with a special Google Doodle. This was created by artist Sophie Diao. The Doodle showed a picture of Korematsu wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom. Behind him, there was a scene of the internment camps. The image was surrounded by cherry blossoms. These flowers have become symbols of peace and friendship between the U.S. and Japan.
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