About KI

Fred T. Korematsu was an American citizen who believed in democracy and justice for all. He was an ordinary man who wasn’t afraid to speak up against the government’s wrongful imprisonment of over 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry during WWII. After receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he continued to advocate for social justice.

We honor Fred’s legacy by encouraging others to follow his lead and, as he said:

Our Mission

Our Vision

To promote civic participation and education that advances racial equity, social justice, and human rights for all.

A more just and inclusive America where we appreciate our differences and treat each other with fairness and respect.

Our Why

We believe prejudice, xenophobia, and racism are born of ignorance and that education is the most powerful tool we have in our fight for justice.

We believe in the importance of knowing our history, acknowledging past mistakes, and speaking up to advance justice for all.

Our Story

Fred’s daughter, Dr. Karen Korematsu, founded the Fred T. Korematsu Institute to carry on her father’s legacy. Since 2009, KI has reached diverse audiences across the country – and internationally – through our education and advocacy work. In this time, Dr. Korematsu’s and KI’s accomplishments have included the following:

  • Addressed thousands of people of all ages, from kindergarteners to federal judges
  • Advocated for Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in over a dozen states and supported bills at the national level
  • Contributed to dozens of documentary films, books, articles, and exhibits
  • Created and distributed over 12,000 educational toolkits to educators and parents
  • Led or contributed to educator workshops and symposia for hundreds of educators
  • Developed lesson plans for elementary, middle, and high-school students
  • Participated in developing the California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum
  • Served as one of three California Education Ambassadors, alongside labor leader Dolores Huerta and former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

What's Next

KI has evolved over time to meet the current challenges facing our democracy. Our traveling exhibit, “Am I An American Or Am I Not?” weaves together our work and represents a major step towards our vision for the next phase of our organization.

The Fred Korematsu Interpretive Center for Social Justice will bring to life the courageous legacy of Fred Korematsu for generations to come. It will focus on applying the lessons from Fred’s story to stand against discrimination and take action to protect our democracy and Constitutional rights.

Located in the historic Presidio of San Francisco, it will serve as a place-based interpretive center to educate students, educators, and the public about the Presidio’s role in the forced removal of Japanese Americans to American concentration camps and Fred Korematsu’s fight for freedom.

Through exhibits, workshops, film screenings, and other events, it will tell diverse stories to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to stay vigilant about protecting the freedoms of all people in America and beyond.

Support

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on grants and donations from other organizations and individuals like you to fund our work.

We are grateful for support from the National Parks Service Japanese American Confinement Sites program, the Henri & Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Trust, and our many other generous donors.

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to help us advance racial equity, social justice, and human rights for all.

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