The Senate resolution designates January 30, 2025, as "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution." It describes Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu's life: he was born January 30, 1919, in Oakland, California, to Japanese immigrant parents; he tried to join the National Guard and Coast Guard but was rejected because of his Japanese ancestry; after Executive Order 9066 in 1942 he resisted forced removal, was arrested, convicted, and sent to the Topaz, Utah, incarceration camp; he appealed to the Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States (1944) and lost. The resolution notes later findings that the wartime removals were motivated by race prejudice and other failures of leadership, that government documents weren’t shared with the Supreme Court, and that Korematsu’s conviction was overturned in 1983. It also notes Korematsu’s later warnings, including a 2003 amicus brief, about how emergency measures can threaten civil liberties. The resolution recognizes his bravery, encourages civic education about civil liberties, and notes several states already mark January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day.
This resolution names January 30, 2025, as a day for remembering Fred Korematsu and for reflection on civil liberties and the Constitution. It asks people to think about political leadership, vigilance, justice, and equality before the law. The text encourages civic education about past challenges to rights and about protecting civil liberties during times of uncertainty.
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Supporters say the designation honors Korematsu's courage in fighting an injustice, highlights lessons about the fragility of civil liberties in emergencies, and promotes civic education about equality and constitutional rights.
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