JACL Commemorates the Legacy of Japanese American Redress

On this date, October 9, 1990, Attorney General Dick Thornburgh presented the first redress checks to nine survivors of Japanese American wartime incarceration in a special ceremony held in Washington D.C. This historic moment marked a major milestone and turning point in the decades-long fight for an apology and justice led by Japanese American survivors, their children, and community allies. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the broader redress movement demonstrated the true power of solidarity and coalition building, ultimately proving that a formal apology and reparations from the federal government are possible.

Today, the legacy of redress and lessons learned continue to shape and inspire our work. We are committed to advocating for modern-day redress and a formal apology for Japanese Latin Americans interned and incarcerated during World War II and reparations efforts for the Black community, including participating in a national movement supporting the passage of H.R. 40/S. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, and final passage of the commission’s recommended reparatory policy.