Constitution Day Resources
“When the exclusion order was posted on telephone poles in 1942, I felt angry and hurt and confused about my future. I could not understand how the United States government could do this to American citizens…It was not right that Japanese Americans were interned.” – Fred T. Korematsu
Fred Korematsu was a civil rights activist who, like Japanese Americans Min Yasui, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Mitsuye Endo, challenged the U.S. government’s wrongful incarceration of over 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast during WWII.
Over a dozen cities and states across the country have recognized Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution on January 30. We strive for national recognition for the day to serve as a reminder and inspiration for Americans of all ages to stand up for what is right. The day represents the importance of both the Constitution and our civil liberties outlined in it.
THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS
The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, laid the groundwork for creating a new self-determined country, established the structure of the federal government, and outlined the rights and privileges of its citizens.
View the scans of the original documents and read the transcripts at the National Archives
FRED KOREMATSU DAY OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE CONSTITUTION
We have the 24-minute version of the doc on #FredKorematsu, “Of Civil Wrongs & Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story”, by director Eric Paul Fournier, on our website. One of our current projects is remastering our two-time Emmy-award-winning documentary in honor of its 25th anniversary, making it available on mainstream platforms and creating supporting curriculum for educators.
ERROR BEFORE US: THE CORAM NOBIS CASES AT 40
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the Korematsu v. US case on December 18, 2024, the Korematsu Institute was pleased to publicly debut “Error Before Us: The Coram Nobis Cases,” a documentary produced by KI in honor of the 40th anniversary of the #coramnobis cases of Fred Korematsu, Minoru Yasui, and Gordon Hirabayashi. Directed by Emmy-award-winning director Eric Fournier, the film shows us what the fight for justice can teach us about the Constitution, civil liberties, citizenship, and what it means to be an American.
OF CIVIL WRONGS AND RIGHTS:
THE FRED KOREMATSU STORY
We have the 24-minute version of the doc on Fred Korematsu, “Of Civil Wrongs & Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story”, by director Eric Paul Fournier, on our website. One of our current projects is remastering our two-time Emmy-award-winning documentary in honor of its 25th anniversary to make it available on mainstream platforms and to create supporting curriculum for educators. To learn more about Fred Korematsu, the Constitution, and this pivotal moment in civil rights history, stream his story.
“AM I AN AMERICAN OR AM I NOT?” NATIONAL TRAVELING EXHIBIT
Our national traveling exhibit “AM I AN AMERICAN OR AM I NOT?” is named after the question Fred Korematsu asked when faced with criminal charges for violating the military orders to leave his home without due process after Executive Order 9066 during WWII. He joined 125,000 other Japanese Americans at incarceration camps around the country. Our exhibit asks visitors to think about our civil liberties and the Constitution.
HOW TO ESTABLISH FRED KOREMATSU DAY IN YOUR STATE
In 2010, the Governor of California signed the legislative bill establishing the inaugural Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution on January 30. It became the first statewide day in U.S. history named after an Asian American. If you are interested in celebrating in your state, check out how to establish a Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution below.