We are excited that Michigan Bill SB 18 establishing Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, January 30 in perpetuity has been signed by Governor Whitmer! Michigan became the 7th state and one city, joining California (2010), Hawai’i (2013), Virginia(2015), Florida (2015), New York City (2018), Arizona (2022), and New Jersey (2023) to designate Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution on January 30 of every year for his “contributions to civil liberties.” My father was an American civil rights hero who moved to Detroit, Michigan after being released from the incarceration camp in Utah. For the rest of his life, he represented his community and championed free speech, social justice, and racial equality, and encouraged us all to “stand up for what is right.”

I want to extend a special thanks to State Senator Stephanie Chang, and Representative Sharon MacDonell. Also, thanks to bill sponsors State Senator Sam Singh, State Senator Rosemary Bayer, State Senator Jeremy Moss, State Senator Sean McCann, State Senator Paul Wojno, State Senator Sue Shink, State Senator Jeff Irwin, State Senator Veronica Klinefelt, State Senator Dayna Polehanki, State Senator Dan Lauwers, State Senator Mary Cavanagh, State Senator Mallory McMorrow, and State Senator Erika Geiss for honoring my father and bringing Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution to the great state of Michigan.

Read the bill honoring Fred T. Korematsu here: SB 18 Establishing Fred Korematsu Day (hyperlink: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2023/01/30/january-30-2023-fred-korematsu-day)