Commemorating January 30, 2026, as "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution"

WHEREAS, Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu was born on January 30, 1919, in Oakland, California, the son of Japanese immigrant parents, and was raised with a strong sense of civic responsibility and belief in the promise of American democracy; and

WHEREAS, Following the United States’ entry into World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forced removal and detention of people of Japanese descent from their homes, without individualized evidence or due process; and

WHEREAS, At the age of twenty-three, Fred Korematsu refused to comply with this order, asserting his constitutional rights as an American citizen, and was arrested and convicted, ultimately challenging the legality of Executive Order 9066 before the United States Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, Although the Supreme Court upheld his conviction in Korematsu v. United States, later judicial and historical findings revealed that the government had suppressed evidence demonstrating the absence of any legitimate security threat, and in 1983 a federal court vacated Fred Korematsu’s conviction; and

WHEREAS, Fred Korematsu devoted his life to public education and advocacy for civil liberties, speaking out against racial discrimination and unjust government action, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998; and

WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island was founded on the radical principle that liberty of conscience must be protected, a belief championed by Roger Williams, who stood against orthodoxy and coercion in matters of belief, knowledge, and inquiry, and insisted that freedom requires the courage to dissent from prevailing power; and

WHEREAS, Just as Roger Williams defended freedom of conscience and the right to question authority in the pursuit of truth, Fred Korematsu stood for constitutional liberty, due process, and equality under the law at a moment when fear and government power threatened those principles; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s enduring motto, “Hope,” reflects a commitment to learning from history, protecting individual rights, and remaining vigilant in defense of civil liberties, especially during times of crisis; and

WHEREAS, Designating Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution provides an opportunity for civic education, reflection, and renewed dedication to the constitutional values that sustain a free and democratic society; and

WHEREAS, On January 30, 2026, a public educational program will be held in observance of Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, hosted by Roger Williams University’s Public Humanities & Arts Collaborative (The Co-Lab) in collaboration with the Roger Williams University School of Law, Roger Williams University's Asian American Alliance, Roger Williams University School of Law’s Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, the AAPI History Museum, Japan–America Society and Black Ships Festival of Rhode Island, Inc., and Communities of Hope Civic Media, bringing together students, educators, legal professionals, and community members to reflect on the legacy of Fred Korematsu, the protection of civil liberties, and the enduring responsibility to uphold constitutional principles through education, dialogue, and civic engagement; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby recognizes January 30, 2026, as “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution”; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate encourages all Rhode Islanders to reflect upon the lessons of history and the enduring importance of standing up for constitutional rights, even when doing so requires courage in the face of fear or opposition; 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 Daniel J. McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island and to Ioannis N. Miaoulis, President of Roger Williams University.