CAPAC Members Release Statements on the Passing of Civil Rights
Leader Gordon Hirabayashi
Jan. 6, WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Congressman Mike Honda, CAPAC Chair
Emeritus, released the following statements in response to the passing of Gordon Hirabayashi.
Rep. Judy Chu:
“Gordon Hirabayashi’s passing marks a sad loss for our community and country. At a time when
Japanese Americans were suffering from discrimination and internment at the hands of their
own government, he stood up to challenge an unjust law and took his case all the way to the
Supreme Court. It wasn’t until decades later that justice was finally served, and that was only as
a result of his tireless efforts and unflinching faith in the protections of the U.S. Constitution.
Every generation needs someone like Dr. Hirabayashi. He was a great American, and he will be
missed.”
Rep. Mike Honda:
“Gordon Hirabayashi’s dedication to the most cherished principals of American democracy
created an iconic moment in the history of the civil rights movement. Gordon’s defiance of the
incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans is an indelible reminder that we must
never let ‘war hysteria, racial prejudice and a failure of political leadership’ derail the continuing
mission of America – to live as one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Gordon’s
legacy is a lodestar for every American – inspiring us to work tirelessly to forge a more perfect
union.”
Months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hirabayashi purposefully defied a curfew
targeting citizens of Japanese ancestry, refused a directive to report to an internment camp, and
was later jailed. His case was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately
ruled against him and upheld the government’s argument that such restrictions were necessary.
He later spent a year in federal prison for refusing to complete a form to enter the armed forces
that required Japanese-Americans to renounce any allegiance to the emperor of Japan. He
argued that the prompt was discriminatory because it implied that Japanese Americans were
loyal to a foreign power when other Americans were not required to make similar pledges. In
1986, after his case and those of other internees were reopened, he was cleared of his past
convictions. As a result of this ruling, Congress passed legislation providing reparations for
Japanese American internees. He stated that his case was not a Japanese-American issue, but
“an American case, with principles that affect the fundamental human rights of all Americans.”
Gordon Hirabayashi died earlier this week at 93 years of age.
###
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of
Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to
promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Currently Chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the
AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.
Leader Gordon Hirabayashi
Jan. 6, WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Congressman Mike Honda, CAPAC Chair
Emeritus, released the following statements in response to the passing of Gordon Hirabayashi.
Rep. Judy Chu:
“Gordon Hirabayashi’s passing marks a sad loss for our community and country. At a time when
Japanese Americans were suffering from discrimination and internment at the hands of their
own government, he stood up to challenge an unjust law and took his case all the way to the
Supreme Court. It wasn’t until decades later that justice was finally served, and that was only as
a result of his tireless efforts and unflinching faith in the protections of the U.S. Constitution.
Every generation needs someone like Dr. Hirabayashi. He was a great American, and he will be
missed.”
Rep. Mike Honda:
“Gordon Hirabayashi’s dedication to the most cherished principals of American democracy
created an iconic moment in the history of the civil rights movement. Gordon’s defiance of the
incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans is an indelible reminder that we must
never let ‘war hysteria, racial prejudice and a failure of political leadership’ derail the continuing
mission of America – to live as one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Gordon’s
legacy is a lodestar for every American – inspiring us to work tirelessly to forge a more perfect
union.”
Months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hirabayashi purposefully defied a curfew
targeting citizens of Japanese ancestry, refused a directive to report to an internment camp, and
was later jailed. His case was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately
ruled against him and upheld the government’s argument that such restrictions were necessary.
He later spent a year in federal prison for refusing to complete a form to enter the armed forces
that required Japanese-Americans to renounce any allegiance to the emperor of Japan. He
argued that the prompt was discriminatory because it implied that Japanese Americans were
loyal to a foreign power when other Americans were not required to make similar pledges. In
1986, after his case and those of other internees were reopened, he was cleared of his past
convictions. As a result of this ruling, Congress passed legislation providing reparations for
Japanese American internees. He stated that his case was not a Japanese-American issue, but
“an American case, with principles that affect the fundamental human rights of all Americans.”
Gordon Hirabayashi died earlier this week at 93 years of age.
###
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of
Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to
promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Currently Chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the
AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus page
