Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared February 19, 2025, as "A Day of Remembrance: Japanese American Evacuation." This proclamation commemorates the issuance of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which led to the incarceration of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II.

The executive order authorized the forced removal and imprisonment of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans from their homes on the West Coast. These individuals were placed in internment camps without trial or due process. Despite these hardships, many young Japanese American men enlisted in the U.S. armed forces during this period.

Governor Newsom's proclamation highlights the resilience and sacrifice of those affected by these events. It also acknowledges the formal apology issued by the U.S. government to survivors of the camps decades later.

"Discrimination and xenophobia drove the incarceration of Japanese Americans – a betrayal of our most sacred values as a nation that we must never repeat," stated Governor Newsom in his proclamation. He urged Californians to remember both the issuance and rescission of Executive Order 9066, emphasizing the importance of protecting civil rights and liberties for all citizens.

The proclamation was signed by Governor Newsom on February 18, 2025, with Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber attesting to it.