Agenda Item: 4a
Meeting Date: February 11, 2025

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PROCLAMATION

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OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION

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WHEREAS, history reminds us of the critical importance of vigilance in upholding civil

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rights and justice for all, and the unjust treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II

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serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of racial prejudice and injustice; and

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WHEREAS, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive

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Order 9066, signifying one of the most sorrowful days in American history, authorizing the forced

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removal and incarceration of over 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent, two-thirds of whom

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were U.S. citizens, denying them their constitutional rights; and

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WHEREAS, the State of Washington has a unique and painful connection to this history,

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as thousands of Japanese Americans were uprooted from their homes, farms, businesses, and

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vibrant communities in Seattle, Auburn, Fife, Tacoma, and throughout the state; and

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WHEREAS, Bainbridge Island became one of the first communities in the U.S. to

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experience forced removal under Executive Order 9066. The late Fumiko Hayashida, born on

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Bainbridge Island in 1911, became one of the first Japanese Americans to be incarcerated. An

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iconic photo of Fumiko, who was 31 years old, is holding her sleeping 13-month-old daughter,

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Natalie, while waiting to board a ferry from Bainbridge Island. On March 30, 1942, Fumiko was

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among the 227 Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes. They were sent to the

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Manzanar Relocation Center in California before being transported to Minidoka Internment Camp

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in Idaho. The incarceration of Japanese Americans would last roughly three years, with most

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camps closing by late 1945 and the last camp, Tule Lake, closing In March 1946; and

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WHEREAS, the Puyallup Assembly Center, euphemistically named "Camp Harmony,"

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was among 17 hastily constructed temporary detention sites established across the West Coast.

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Located at what is now the Washington State Fairgrounds, these centers were primarily used as

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staging areas before detainees were transported to more permanent camps; and

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WHEREAS, despite tremendous adversity, Japanese Americans demonstrated

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incredible resilience, contributing immeasurably to the nation both during the war effort and in the

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decades that followed, embodying the ideals of hope, perseverance, and patriotism; and

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WHEREAS, one such striking example of patriotism in the face of adversity was the

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service of the Japanese American Nisei (second generation) Veterans. Japanese Americans served

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throughout the theater of war and comprised the famed 442nd Regiment/100th Infantry Battalion,

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which was the most decorated fighting unit in United States military history who fought in Europe

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despite their families being incarcerated behind barbed wire; and

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WHEREAS, the lessons learned from Executive Order 9066 remain especially relevant

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today, as the injustices faced by marginalized groups demand our collective commitment to

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confronting prejudice, advancing equity and inclusion, and reaffirming our dedication to protecting

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civil liberties, equity, and justice, especially in times of crises; and

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WHEREAS, last month, Nihonmachi Valley, a public exhibit space in Seattle's

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Chinatown-International District, was defaced. The public art exhibit put on by the Wing Luke

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Museum, in part, displays murals memorializing the incarceration of Japanese Americans. The

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iconic photo of Fumiko Hayashida holding her daughter, Natalie, is one of these murals; and

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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle honors the legacy of Japanese Americans in the Puget

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Sound region, recognizing their contributions to our cultural, economic, and social fabric while

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committing to fostering a future that upholds justice and the dignity of all; and

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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission denounces all acts of vandalism,

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harassment, intimidation, discrimination, or any other forms of bigotry against any and all

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individuals, and affirms the right of every individual to equal protection under the law; and

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WHEREAS,

the Port of Seattle Commission solemnly acknowledges and

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commemorates February 19th, the Day of Remembrance, as a time of reflection on these injustices

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and as an opportunity to educate our community and ensure that such violations of rights are never

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repeated; and

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WHEREAS, in April 2023, the Port of Seattle Commission unanimously passed the

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Equity Policy Directive, institutionalizing equity, diversity, and inclusion as a central part of the

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organization and its work; and

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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission reaffirms the importance of diversity,

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equity, and inclusion as core values of its mission and demonstrates unwavering and steadfast

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support of its Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, ensuring it remains supported and actively

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advancing its initiatives.

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NOW, THEREFORE, the Port of Seattle Commission hereby proclaims February 19,

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2025, as the Day of Remembrance for Japanese American Incarceration and honors the resilience,

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dignity, and contributions of Japanese Americans in the face of injustice, committing to uphold

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equity and civil rights for all.

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Proclaimed by the Port of Seattle Commission this 11 th day of February, 2025.

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Port of Seattle Commission

Port of Seattle Commission