S2587

The New York State Senate passed legislation establishing January 30th as 'Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution,' honoring the Japanese-American civil rights activist who challenged forced internment during World War II. The bill (S2587, Calendar No. 461) passed on a 59-0 roll call vote. Sponsor Sen. Mayer explained that the measure affirms the state's commitment to teaching about the internment of Japanese and Japanese-Americans and recognizes Korematsu's refusal to comply with relocation orders. Mayer noted that Korematsu, a 22-year-old shipyard welder and U.S. citizen, was fired from his job and arrested for resisting internment, though the Supreme Court later acknowledged its prior decision upholding his conviction was 'gravely wrong.' Mayer drew contemporary parallels, stating: 'There are some today being ripped from their families as ordinary people living ordinary lives and contributing to their communities,' urging the Senate not to 'fall again so readily into the trap of seeing the other as the enemy.'

The New York State Senate passed legislation establishing January 30th as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, honoring the civil rights advocate who challenged the forced internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The bill (S2587, Calendar No. 529) passed on a voice vote with 60 ayes and no opposition. Sen. Mayer, the bill's sponsor, explained that Korematsu refused internment orders in 1942 and was convicted and imprisoned, but had his conviction overturned in 1984 based on government misconduct. He later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998. Mayer said the legislation affirms New York's commitment to teaching about this "shameful" chapter of American history and recommits the state to protecting civil and constitutional rights for all. She noted the bill's timeliness given rising anti-Asian hate and discrimination. The measure was sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymember Grace Lee.