NOTE: This year Dr. Karen Korematsu, founder and executive director of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute and the daughter of the late civil rights icon, Fred Korematsu will be speaking at a special town all at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in honor of Constitution Day on September 17. 

What is Constitution Day? On the surface, it commemorates the signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787. But it represents so much more. It is a charter that holds a promise. A foundation document that outlines how our government works. A document designed by people for how the people should co-exist and be governed with their input. The Constitution along with its sister document, the Bill of Rights, outlines each and every American’s basic civil rights. 

My father was an American who represented his community and championed free speech, social justice, and racial equality. Executive Order 9066, cleared the way for 120,000 Japanese Americans to be unjustly incarcerated during World War II. My father was one of thousands with their lives and livelihoods upended. As a champion of education to eradicate prejudice and ensure one’s civil rights and liberties, he took his case to court eventually leading to the landmark Supreme Court case, Korematsu v United States, in which he took a stand against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. He, along with a few others, was one voice, standing up for many others who were left to rebuild their lives and communities without fanfare or recompense after their incarceration. 

“Over the course of his life, Korematsu fought for the civil liberties of others. He was tireless in his work to ensure Americans understood the lessons learned from one of the dark chapters of our history.” – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, on California establishing a Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in perpetuity, 2010

We currently find ourselves at a crossroads in how we deal with hard history and real threats to our civil rights. We must take on the obligation that comes with those rights. It is our social responsibility to stay informed, to vote in every election, and to stand up for what is right. When you see something wrong or unfair, speak up. Let your voice be heard. Every year, the Fred T. Korematsu Institute holds a Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution (next up, January 28, 2023) to commemorate the January 30th birthday of Fred Korematsu and the importance of our Constitution and the civil liberties he championed. 

In the end, we must stand up for what is right every day. This is what my father, Fred Korematsu, represents. One voice of many standing up against injustice. On this Constitution Day, we must remember that we shape our collective future in the decisions we make every day. And we must hold decision-makers accountable so that we are not fighting these same avoidable battles generation after generation. Stand up and speak up today and every day. All of our voices count.