Across the country, communities are coming together today to demand immigration policies that prioritize dignity, safety, and accountability. This week’s nationwide ICE Out actions reflect growing concern about enforcement practices that separate families and destabilize neighborhoods.
These actions are about more than a single protest or shutdown. They represent communities standing up for their neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones, and using their collective voice to call for humane, fair, and just immigration systems.
When people come together to protect one another and speak out against harmful policies, they strengthen the fabric of our democracy. This moment is a reminder that civic participation and solidarity are powerful tools for change, and that communities play a critical role in shaping a more equitable future for everyone.
Although many ICE Out actions may have already occurred by the time you get this, some activities are happening tomorrow. Find an event near you: https://www.mobilize.us/?tag_ids=29124
JANUARY 30 IS FRED KOREMATSU DAY
Today, we honor the Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, commemorating his fight for racial equity, social justice, and human rights for all. Mr. Korematsu courageously refused to comply with the unjust mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, leading to his prosecution, which was appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court.
Although this case was wrongly decided at the time, Mr. Korematsu became a lasting symbol of resistance to government overreach and racial discrimination. In the decades that followed, Korematsu’s persistence helped expose the injustice of internment, leading to a formal government apology and inspiring generations to defend civil liberties, especially in moments of national fear.
Watch a special conversation between Dr. Karen Korematsu and Michael Yarvitz (Executive Producer and Co-Writer of Rachel Maddow’s “Burn Order” podcast) now live on https://korematsuinstitute.org.
EJS Board Member Donald K. Tamaki was a leader of the pro bono legal team that reopened the landmark Supreme Court case of Korematsu v. the United States, overturning Fred Korematsu’s conviction for refusing incarceration during the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and providing a key legal foundation in the decades-long Japanese American Redress Movement.
It was Don’s work on the Korematsu case and his subsequent movement-building that led to California Governor Gavin Newsom appointing him – along with EJS President Lisa Holder and others – to the nation’s first state task force on reparations. Don is now a leader of reparations efforts through EJS and ARRT, the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (https://alliancefor.org).