“Your Honor, I still remember 40 years ago when I was handcuffed and arrested as a criminal here in San Francisco. I also remember Mr. Ernest Besig of the American Civil Liberties Union standing beside me at my hearing. He posted the bail of $5,000. I was supposed to go free as a civilian. But as we were ready to go out the door, the military police were there with guns, and they said, “You cannot leave.” They had orders from their commander. So, right away they raised the bail to $10,000, and Mr. Besig said, “Well, we will just let you go with the MP’s and see what happens.

So, that’s how it was going back and forth. As an American citizen, being put through the shame and embarrassment, and also all Japanese American citizens who were sent to concentration camps suffered the same embarrassment. We can never forget this incident as long as we live.

The horse stalls that we stayed in were made for horses, not for human beings. According to the Supreme Court decision regarding my case, being an American citizen was not enough. They say you have to look like one. Otherwise, they say you can’t tell the difference between a loyal and disloyal American.

I thought this decision was wrong, and I still feel that way. As long as my record stands in Federal Court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without a trial or a hearing, that is, if they look like the enemy of our country.

Therefore, I would like to see the Government admit they were wrong and to do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”