July 10, 1970 A resolution by the JACL's Northern California-Western Nevada District Council calling for reparations for the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans is announced. Titled "A Requital Supplication" and championed by Edison Uno, this resolution would have the JACL seek a bill in Congress awarding individual compensation on a per diem basis tax-free.

November 28, 1979 Representative Mike Lowry (DWA) introduces the WWII Japanese-American Human Rights Violations Act (H.R. 5977) into Congress. This NCJAR sponsored bill is largely based on research done by ex-members of the Seattle JACL chapter. It proposes direct payments of $15,000 per victim plus an additional $15 per day interned. Given the choice between this bill and the JACL supported study commission bill introduced two months earlier, Congress opts for the latter.

July 14, 1981 The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians holds hearings across the US. Emotional testimony by Japanese Americans proves cathartic for the community, and is a turning point in the redress movement. In all, 750 witnesses testify.

August 10, 1988 H.R. 442 is signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. It provides for individual payments of $20,000 to each surviving internee and a $1.25 billion education fund among other provisions.

October 9, 1990 The first nine redress payments are made at a Washington D.C. One hundred seven year-old Rev. Mamoru Eto of Los Angeles is the first to receive his check.

Student Reading

The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians was the congressional commission charged with studying the mass removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII and recommending an appropriate remedy.

The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) was bom on July 32, 1980. With President Jimmy Carter's signing of Public Law 96-317.

The CWRIC actually had its beginnings in 1979 when the Japanese American Citizens League decided to act on its goal of seeking redress and pushed for the formation of the committee.

As part of its research, the CWRIC held hearings beginning in 1981 in several cities across the country. In each city, Japanese Americans testified about their experiences in the concentration camps; many talked about these experiences for the first time.

After 18 months of research, the CWRIC issued its report on February 22, 1983, published under the title Personal Justice Denied. In its final recommendation calling for individual payments to victims of the camps of $20,000 (see page 11 for copy of official letter of apology that accompanied each check.) Five years later, a bill implementing these recommendations for the most part was signed by President Reagan.

1. What is reparation?
2. Do you believe the reparations made to Japanese Americans were fair, adequate?
3. What is justice?
4. Do you believe justice was served?
5. Why do you think it took so long for the US to make reparations?
6. Some Japanese Americans never spoke of their experience until the reparation hearings began in the early 80s. Why do you believe it was so difficult for them to speak of their experiences?
7. Research Japanese Americans internment experience then hold a mock committee on reparations. Divide the class into Japanese Americans and representatives of US Government. Have students designated as Japanese Americans testify about their experiences. Then have students designated as US Government representatives present their research. What conclusions are made? Explain.

Introduction

Unit I: World War II Incarceration: A Chronological History

1. US Anti-Asian Sentiment
2. Relocation and Internment
3. Concentration Camps
4. Reparations

Unit II: Multiculturalism
Unit III: American Pluralistic Society