Day of Remembrance (Japanese Americans)

The Day of Remembrance is a day of commemoration for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. It is a day for Americans of Japanese descent to reflect upon the consequences of Executive Order 9066. The Day of Remembrance also creates a space for the facilitation of dialogue and informing the public about the repercussions of such government action. Events in numerous U.S. states, especially in the West Coast, are held on or near February 19, the day in 1942 that Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, requiring internment of all Americans of Japanese ancestry. Areas where people of Japanese descent were forced to relocate included Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Arkansas. There are events held in each of these states as well. Events are not only relegated to the Western United States and it is widely observed in other areas of the United States such as Alaska, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City, and New England.