Lawmakers honor Japanese-American internees

Today, lawmakers in the House recognized the Japanese-American internees and World War II veterans from Washington state for their sacrifice and patriotic loyalty during their relocation and internment sixty-nine years ago.

“We must remember our past,” said Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, the only Japanese-American woman in the Washington state Legislature.

Santos spoke about what it means to be an American and the importance of upholding the Constitution. “We must remember that it is our responsibility to ensure each one of us upholds our end of checking unlimited power,” Santos said.

Rep. Bob Hasegawa spoke about the value of community and Americans’ shared belief in liberty and justice for all.

“As we move forward and take this time to reflect, I would like us to think about what happened, the guarantees of liberty and justice for all and the guarantees that we all have inalienable rights,” said Hasegawa. “Let us move forward as a legislative body to try and learn those lessons, that we all are people of good conscience, that we do not judge each other, and that we do our best so that we are all treated equally.”

Please click here to read House Resolution 4627, sponsored by Reps. Santos and Hasegawa.