| R 119 |
| 2022 -- H 7522 Enacted 02/17/2022 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOCATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 |
Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Tobon, Chippendale, Roberts, Quattrocchi, Price, Kennedy, and Ajello |
| Date Introduced: February 17, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, On February 19, 1976, President Gerald Ford signed an order prohibiting |
| the executive branch from ever again instituting an unjust and tragic directive such as the World |
| War II Executive Order 9066, and in 1988, President Ronald Reagan issued a public apology on |
| behalf of the United States government, and authorized reparations for former Japanese American |
| internees or their descendants; and |
| WHEREAS, Executive Order 9066 had been issued on February 19, 1942, by President |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had come under increasing pressure from military and political |
| advisors to take action after the terrifying bombing of Pearl Harbor; and |
| WHEREAS, The mandate, which was in direct conflict with the Bill of Rights, had |
| substantial and lasting negative consequences for many Americans as it ordered the forced |
| removal of persons it termed to be "enemy aliens" from particular parts of the United States that |
| had been loosely identified as military areas, predominantly on the West Coast; and |
| WHEREAS, The largest number of these detainees were Japanese Americans who were |
| removed en masse to Relocation Centers for the duration of the war, regardless of their American |
| citizenship status, length of residence, or any valid evidence of betrayal or perfidy; and |
| WHEREAS, Taking only the possessions they could carry, over 100,000 loyal American |
| men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry were forced and confined into cramped quarters |
| within isolated and guarded internment camps surrounded by fencing. Many ended up losing their |
| businesses, farms, and loved ones as a result; and |
| WHEREAS, History has proven that the sacrifices and loyalty of Japanese-Americans |
| with names like Hamada, Mitsumori, Marimoto, Noguchi, Yamasaki, Kido, Munemori, |
| Miyamura, and many others have made contributions that have provided enrichment, well-being, |
| and security to this nation; and |
| WHEREAS, Recognition of our Country's historic mistake and breech in American |
| citizens' civil rights is essential so that we as a nation never again allow fear, jealously, or |
| prejudice to rule and that we bestow, protect, and ensure all Americans with liberty and justice; |
| now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| commemorates the 46th Anniversary of the revocation of Executive Order 9066; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Japan America Society of Rhode Island and |
| to the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston. |
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| LC004580 |
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