GFBNEC’s Statement on Election

Panel from GFBNEC’s “Defining Courage” exhibition. (J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo)

The Go For Broke National Education Center in Los Angeles released the following statement on Nov. 10.

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Go For Broke National Education Center recognizes that one of the hallmarks of the United States’ democracy is the peaceful and universally accepted transfer of power from one president to the next, despite any differences in perspective, policy, or values. The current 2016 presidential election is no exception to this critical and time-honored practice. The office of the president of the United States needs to be respected.

At the same time, as an organization committed to promoting equality and remembering the discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II, GFBNEC will be ever vigilant of policies or practices that discriminate against individuals in the United States based on the color of their skin, the God whom they choose to worship, the person whom they choose to love, or the country of their origin.

“Equal protection under the law is a fundamental American value which serves as the core of our democracy,” said Mitchell T. Maki, GFBNEC’s interim president and CEO. “We have seen the abandonment of this value in times of national crisis and hysteria. We stand ready to protect this right for all individuals in the United States.”

“The Japanese American experience of World War II is a case study of what not to do in times of fear.” said Bill H. Seki, GFBNEC’s chair of the Board of Directors. “Go For Broke National Education Center is committed to ensuring that these violations of law and civil liberties do not take place again.”