San Jose Panel to Address Scapegoating, Hate-Mongering

SAN JOSE — The ACLU Santa Clara Valley Chapter and the San Jose Japanese American community will present a panel discussion of civil liberties in the context of the recent escalation of xenophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric in the wake of the attacks on Paris. The debate over Syrian refugees, and the mass shooting in San Bernardino have also added to the atmosphere of heightened tensions.

The event will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Chruch, 566 N. 5th St. (near Jackson) in San Jose Japantown.

Highlighted in the national debate, Japanese Americans have found that the World War II exclusion and incarceration have become a touchstone for good and for ill:

• The mayor of Roanoke, Va. has cited the exclusion and incarceration to be the model for how to look at Syrian refugees.

• GOP presidential candidateDonald Trump has proposed a mandatory registration of Muslims in the U.S.

• Jay Inslee, governor of Washington, will not close doors to refugees, citing the terrible experience that his state witnessed on Bainbridge Island.

“We would like to make sure that our community, having experienced the World War II treatment, makes it clear that we oppose the scapegoating and hate-mongering now threatening more thoughtful discourse,” event organizers said.

Panelists will include representatives of JACL-San Jose, JACL Silicon Valley, JACL Sequoia, Asian Law Alliance, Nihonmachi Outreach Committee, Santa Clara Valley Chapter-ACLU, as well as other guests.

For more information, contact Richard Konda at (408) 287-9710.