Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution is observed on January 30 each year, Fred Korematsu's birthday. Korematsu was a Japanese American who refused to obey government orders forcing people of Japanese ancestry into incarceration camps during World War II. His legal fight became one of the most important civil rights cases in U.S. history. California established the day in 2010, and several other states also recognize it.
History of Fred Korematsu Day
Fred Korematsu was born on January 30, 1919, in Oakland, California, to Japanese immigrant parents. After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. It led to the forced removal and incarceration of about 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast, most of them U.S. citizens.
Korematsu refused to report and was arrested. He challenged the order in court, arguing that it violated his constitutional rights. In 1944, in Korematsu v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against him, upholding the exclusion order. Three justices dissented, warning against racial discrimination.
Decades later, researchers discovered that the government had suppressed evidence showing Japanese Americans posed no military threat. In 1983, a federal court overturned Korematsu's conviction. In 1988, the Civil Liberties Act formally apologized and provided reparations to surviving incarcerees. In 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded Korematsu the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Korematsu died in 2005, and in 2018, the Supreme Court stated that the Korematsu decision had been wrong.
Why Fred Korematsu Day Matters
Fred Korematsu's story shows the courage it takes to stand up for constitutional rights, even when public opinion is against you.
It reminds Americans that civil liberties must be protected during times of fear and crisis.
The day encourages students and adults to learn about the Japanese American incarceration and to consider how to prevent similar injustices.
How to Celebrate Fred Korematsu Day
- Learn his story: read about Fred Korematsu's life and case.
- Visit a site: explore Manzanar or other incarceration sites.
- Read the Constitution: study the rights it protects.
- Hear firsthand accounts: listen to oral histories from incarcerated Japanese Americans.
- Speak up: stand against discrimination in your community.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, share Korematsu's story as part of civil rights education or diversity programs. In classrooms, students can study the Korematsu case, compare it with other Supreme Court decisions or read memoirs by Japanese Americans who were incarcerated. At home, families can watch a documentary, visit a museum such as the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, or discuss what it means to stand up for what's right.
Fun Facts About Fred Korematsu Day
- Fred Korematsu was born on January 30, 1919.
- About 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated.
- His conviction was overturned in 1983.
Fred Korematsu Day FAQs
When is Fred Korematsu Day?
Fred Korematsu Day is observed on January 30 each year.
Who was Fred Korematsu?
A Japanese American civil rights activist who challenged WWII incarceration.
What was Korematsu v. United States?
A 1944 Supreme Court case that upheld the exclusion of Japanese Americans, 6–3.
Was Korematsu's conviction overturned?
Yes. A federal court overturned it in 1983.
Which states observe Fred Korematsu Day?
California established it in 2010, and several other states also recognize it.
What was Executive Order 9066?
A 1942 order that led to the incarceration of Japanese Americans.