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PROCLAMATION 3
OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 4
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WHEREAS, history reminds us of the critical importance of vigilance in upholding civil 6
rights and justice for all, and the unjust treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II 7
serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of racial prejudice and injustice; and 8
WHEREAS, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive 9
Order 9066, signifying one of the most sorrowful days in American history, authorizing the forced 10
removal and incarceration of over 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent, two-thirds of whom 11
were U.S. citizens, denying them their constitutional rights; and 12
WHEREAS, the State of Washington has a unique and painful connection to this history, 13
as thousands of Japanese Americans were uprooted from their homes, farms, businesses, and 14
vibrant communities in Seattle, Auburn, Fife, Tacoma, and throughout the state; and 15
WHEREAS, Bainbridge Island became one of the first communities in the U.S. to 16
experience forced removal under Executive Order 9066. The late Fumiko Hayashida, born on 17
Bainbridge Island in 1911, became one of the first Japanese Americans to be incarcerated. An 18
iconic photo of Fumiko, who was 31 years old, is holding her sleeping 13-month-old daughter, 19
Natalie, while waiting to board a ferry from Bainbridge Island. On March 30, 1942, Fumiko was 20
among the 227 Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes. They were sent to the 21
Manzanar Relocation Center in California before being transported to Minidoka Internment Camp 22
in Idaho. The incarceration of Japanese Americans would last roughly three years, with most 23
camps closing by late 1945 and the last camp, Tule Lake, closing In March 1946; and 24
WHEREAS, the Puyallup Assembly Center, euphemistically named “Camp Harmony,” 25
was among 17 hastily constructed temporary detention sites established across the West Coast. 26
Agenda Item: 4a
Meeting Date: February 11, 2025
Located at what is now the Washington State Fairgrounds, these centers were primarily used as 27
staging areas before detainees were transported to more permanent camps; and 28
WHEREAS, despite tremendous adversity, Japanese Americans demonstrated 29
incredible resilience, contributing immeasurably to the nation both during the war effort and in the 30
decades that followed, embodying the ideals of hope, perseverance, and patriotism; and 31
WHEREAS, one such striking example of patriotism in the face of adversity was the 32
service of the Japanese American Nisei (second generation) Veterans. Japanese Americans served 33
throughout the theater of war and comprised the famed 442
nd
Regiment/100
th
Infantry Battalion, 34
which was the most decorated fighting unit in United States military history who fought in Europe 35
despite their families being incarcerated behind barbed wire; and 36
WHEREAS, the lessons learned from Executive Order 9066 remain especially relevant 37
today, as the injustices faced by marginalized groups demand our collective commitment to 38
confronting prejudice, advancing equity and inclusion, and reaffirming our dedication to protecting 39
civil liberties, equity, and justice, especially in times of crises; and 40
WHEREAS, last month, Nihonmachi Valley, a public exhibit space in Seattle’s 41
Chinatown-International District, was defaced. The public art exhibit put on by the Wing Luke 42
Museum, in part, displays murals memorializing the incarceration of Japanese Americans. The 43
iconic photo of Fumiko Hayashida holding her daughter, Natalie, is one of these murals; and 44
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle honors the legacy of Japanese Americans in the Puget 45
Sound region, recognizing their contributions to our cultural, economic, and social fabric while 46
committing to fostering a future that upholds justice and the dignity of all; and 47
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission denounces all acts of vandalism, 48
harassment, intimidation, discrimination, or any other forms of bigotry against any and all 49
individuals, and affirms the right of every individual to equal protection under the law; and 50
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission solemnly acknowledges and 51
commemorates February 19th, the Day of Remembrance, as a time of reflection on these injustices 52
and as an opportunity to educate our community and ensure that such violations of rights are never 53
repeated; and 54
WHEREAS, in April 2023, the Port of Seattle Commission unanimously passed the 55
Equity Policy Directive, institutionalizing equity, diversity, and inclusion as a central part of the 56
organization and its work; and 57
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission reaffirms the importance of diversity, 58
equity, and inclusion as core values of its mission and demonstrates unwavering and steadfast 59
support of its Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, ensuring it remains supported and actively 60
advancing its initiatives. 61
NOW, THEREFORE, the Port of Seattle Commission hereby proclaims February 19, 62
2025, as the Day of Remembrance for Japanese American Incarceration and honors the resilience, 63
dignity, and contributions of Japanese Americans in the face of injustice, committing to uphold 64
equity and civil rights for all. 65
Proclaimed by the Port of Seattle Commission this 11
th
day of February, 2025. 66
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Port of Seattle Commission 68
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Port of Seattle Commission 80
