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Go For Broke National Education Center is located one block from the federal building in downtown Los Angeles—the epicenter of the recent protests, civil unrest, and police and military presence. Our Japanese American soldiers fought to uphold the wisdom of America's promise—the promise that in our nation, no one is to be judged by the color of one’s skin, the nation of one’s origins, or the faith that one chooses to keep. Today, our nation is still struggling with how to embody this promise.
On Friday, June 6, the immigration protests and police presence began on the corner of Temple Street and Alameda Street. The Go For Broke Monument is located two hundred yards from that corner, and directly adjacent to it, the new Go For Broke Plaza is being built. Remarkably, the Monument, building project, and nearby storage units (with images of the Nisei WWII soldiers) have remained largely untouched by the rampant tagging seen in Little Tokyo and other parts of downtown Los Angeles.
Throughout the crisis, we were heartened to receive ongoing support from the community, including a couple of small American flags left on our fence. At one point, an individual with a megaphone leading a group of protestors through our neighborhood proclaimed, “Little Tokyo is a part of our community. There’s no reason why it should be boarded up like this.”
Little Tokyo is a vibrant community of immigrants and their descendants from diverse backgrounds who work, live, and visit here. Unfortunately, downtown businesses are currently struggling due to the protests and evening curfews. If you are in the area, we ask you to dine and shop to support small businesses.
On a national level, we are alarmed by the blatant dismissal of due process for individuals who are being detained. Eighty-five years ago, “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership” resulted in the incarceration of Japanese Americans. There were no charges, no trials, and no due process. We claim to be a nation of laws and legal rights that apply to all individuals in the country, regardless of immigration status. Yet, once again, our national actions betray that claim.
As America faces a crisis of conscience and moral and legal clarity, let us not forget the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Scalia clearly stated that what happened to the Japanese American community in WWII was wrong. He then went on to say, “But, you are kidding yourself if you think it will never happen again. In times of war, the laws fall silent.” Chilling words for any of us who cherish the Constitution. Due process and equal protection under these laws are the foundation of our nation. In this moment, amidst the growing division and disagreement, let us all commit ourselves that never again, in America, shall we allow our laws to fall silent.
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