Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 37 / Thursday, February 24, 2022 / Presidential Documents 10677 

Proclamation 10341 of February 18, 2022 

Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration 

During World War II 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Eighty years ago, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt 

signed Executive Order 9066, stripping people of Japanese descent of their 

civil rights. That order and the subsequent actions carried out by the Federal 

Government represent one of the most shameful chapters in our Nation’s 

history. On this Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration 

During World War II, we acknowledge the unjust incarceration of some 

120,000 Japanese Americans, approximately two-thirds of whom were born 

in the United States. 

Despite never being charged with a crime, and without due process, Japanese 

Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and communities and 

incarcerated, simply because of their heritage. For years, many Japanese 

Americans lived in harsh, overcrowded conditions, surrounded by barbed 

wire fences and armed guards. Not only did they lose their homes, businesses, 

property, and savings—they also lost their liberty, security, and the fundamental freedoms that belong to all Americans in equal measure. 

I have always believed that great nations do not ignore their most painful 

moments—they confront them with honesty and, in doing so, learn from 

them and grow stronger as a result. The incarceration of Japanese Americans 

80 years ago is a reminder to us today of the tragic consequences we 

invite when we allow racism, fear, and xenophobia to fester. 

Today, we reaffirm the Federal Government’s formal apology to Japanese 

Americans whose lives were irreparably harmed during this dark period 

of our history, and we solemnly reflect on our collective moral responsibility 

to ensure that our Nation never again engages in such un-American acts. 

We acknowledge the intergenerational trauma and loss that the incarceration 

of Japanese Americans has caused. We also uplift the courage and resilience 

of brave Japanese Americans who, despite being unjustly incarcerated, formed 

powerful communities and marshalled incredible dignity and strength. 

Many of those whose families were incarcerated volunteered or were drafted 

to serve in combat—courageously serving in the 100th Infantry Battalion, 

Military Intelligence Service, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, Army Nurse 

Corps, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team with unwavering patriotism. 

The all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental 

Combat Team became two of the most decorated and distinguished military 

units in our Nation’s history. Countless Japanese Americans carry forward 

this legacy of extraordinary service today, and their work to preserve the 

history of this period strengthens our Nation and our democracy. 

We reflect on the bravery of civil rights leaders like Fred Korematsu, Minoru 

Yasui, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Mitsuye Endo, and that of every Japanese 

American who organized and sought redress. Their efforts helped bring 

about the first Day of Remembrance, led President Jimmy Carter to sign 

the law creating the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment 

of Civilians, and spurred President Ronald Reagan to sign the Civil Liberties 

Act of 1988, which provided monetary reparations to living survivors and 


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10678 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 37 / Thursday, February 24, 2022 / Presidential Documents 

an official apology to the Japanese American community. At the same time, 

we also acknowledge the painful reality that Japanese Latin Americans, 

who were taken from their Central and South American homes and incarcerated by the United States Government during World War II, were excluded 

from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. 

Today, the National Park Service helps preserve several Japanese American 

incarceration camps. These tangible reminders of our history provide important spaces for reflection and learning about the injustices born of prejudice. 

Preserving incarceration sites as national parks and historic landmarks is 

proof of our Nation’s commitment to facing the wrongs of our past, to 

healing the pain still felt by survivors and their descendants, and to ensuring 

that we always remember why it matters that we never stop fighting for 

equality and justice for all. My Administration is committed to maintaining 

these national parks and landmarks for future generations and to combating 

xenophobia, hate, and intolerance—including through the reestablished 

White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific 

Islanders. In the words of Dr. Frank Kitamoto, who was incarcerated as 

a child, ‘‘This is not just a Japanese American story but an American 

story with implications for the world.’’ 

The words we use to describe the historical and present treatment of communities of color and other underserved communities have profound meaning. 

Today, we recognize that euphemistic terms that we have collectively used 

in the past—such as ‘‘assembly centers,’’ ‘‘relocation,’’ or ‘‘internment’’— 

do not adequately describe the injustice experienced by some 120,000 people; 

we recognize the forced removal and mass incarceration of Japanese Americans and others during World War II; and we reaffirm our commitment 

to Nidoto Nai Yoni, which translates to ‘‘Let It Not Happen Again.’’ 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 19, 2022, 

as a Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration During World 

War II. I call upon the people of the United States to commemorate this 

injustice against civil liberties and civil rights during World War II; to 

honor the sacrifice of those who defended the democratic ideals of this 

Nation; and to commit together to eradicate systemic racism to heal 

generational trauma in our communities. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 37 / Thursday, February 24, 2022 / Presidential Documents 10679 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day 

of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

forty-sixth. 

[FR Doc. 2022–04103 

Filed 2–23–22; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3395–F2–P 


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