ART FORCING CHANGE: LOOK UP
Over the July 4th weekend, 80 artists, including Karen Ishizuka of Tsuru for Solidarity, joined together to launch XMAP: In Plain Sight – a stunning effort to make visible the injustices of the largest immigration detention system in the world. In Plain Sight’s collective of artists – representing an array of ages, gender presentations and subjective lived experiences came together in solidarity to help abolish immigrant detention. Fairness, freedom, opportunity, and respect for human rights should be at the core of our immigration system.
YOU CAN HELP END IMMIGRANT DETENTION
*Join* the movement #FreeThemAll Campaign + #AbolishIce. *Donate* to these local bond funds: https://linktr.ee/InPlainSight
These Japanese American artists participated bringing to light our own history of incarceration, forced removal and detention and mobilizing it to make visible the injustices of the U.S. immigration detention system. Learn more about them and their messages – Karen Ishizuka, Tina Takemoto, Bruce Yonemoto, Devon Tsuno and traci kato-kiriyama
Karen Ishizuka and Tsuru for Solidarity’s phrase NO MORE CAMPS asks that Japanese Americans and their allies to take a stand against all acts of xenophobia every day; in ourselves, in our homes, in our places of work, and out in the world whenever we encounter it. Speak up, intervene, and disrupt. Together we rise.
We chose “No More Camps!” as a banner over the recently re-opened Santa Anita Racetrack to remind Americans that it once imprisoned over 18,000 Japanese Americans in converted horse stalls and 500 barracks during World War II. Now over 85 years old, the racetrack stands today – hidden in plain sight – as a symbol of injustice that forever defaced the democratic aspirations of this country. It is a living reminder that mass detention and incarceration can happen anywhere, anytime to anyone.”
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Devon Tsuno and traci kato-kiriyama: 956-701-0149
Devon Tsuno: 956-701-0149 #XMAP
Laredo, US/Mexico Border
The telephone number was written in the sky above the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Laredo Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry. Those who call will listen to English translations of letters written by those incarcerated at U.S. detention centers and letters that were written to people inside those centers. These recordings were made during creative interventions including the Tea & Letter Writing initiative launched by artist/organizer @traciakemi1 during their 3-month +LAB Residency in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, in collaboration with @wfumihsu and @cognate.collective.
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Tina Takemoto: NOT FORGOTTEN
Tina Takemoto: NOT FORGOTTEN #XMAP
OC – San Diego – Terminal Island
Mark Photo by Von Holden
Terminal Island, California was the location of a Japanese American fishing village in the Port of Los Angeles. In February 1942, less than a week after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, Terminal Island residents were among the first Japanese Americans to be forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated in US concentration camps.
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Bruce Yonemoto: NOT SKIN OR COLOR
Bruce Yonemoto: NOT SKIN OR COLOR #XMAP
Pomona Assembly Center
This quote is from an interview with Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii at the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Senator Inouye fought in WWII with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team which was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service, in the entire history of the US Military. The Japanese American soldiers were fighting to win two wars: the war against the Germans in Europe and the war against racial prejudice in America. After President Franklin Roosevelt imprisoned 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans he cynically indicated in his statement when he created the 442nd, Americanism is not a matter of skin or color. Americanism is what is in your heart and we believe that. Americanism is not determined by race or color, but our attitude and our thoughts. Wow words to live by: too bad America and Americans are still divided by race and color.
KITE FLYING OVER NWDC with La Resistencia as part of In Plain Sight
From @laresistencianw:
On Friday, July 3rd 5-7PM La Resistencia held a rally outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in collaboration with @InPlainSightMap, over 80 artists and 80 other detention centers around the so-called US.
“Detainee Request Forms”, also known as “kites” are used inside the NWDC to officially report grievances and complaints from those being detained. Often ignored or flagged as reasons to retaliate against individuals, filing kites rarely gets people detained the justice they seek.
Kites were flown outside the NWDC, amplifying the work and demands of those inside. Attendees heard stories and grievances from people detained & family members, learned about the connections between ending immigration detention/deportations and the work of decolonizing, and explored the links between the ICE, CBP, and the calls to #DefundPolice.
Tsuru for Solidarity in Seattle joined the rally with hand made kites by Erin Shigaki and Escot Mexcal. See more –
More Press about the In Plain Sight Demonstrations –
[radio] NPR | With Fleets of Planes, Artists Take to Skies Nationwide to Protest Mass Detention July 4, 2020
New York Times | Protesting US Immigration Policies, Artists Aim for the Sky July 3, 2020
Los Angeles Times | 80 Artists will Mark Fourth of July with Skytyped Messages Over U.S. Detention Centers July 3, 2020
Hypebeast | 80 Artists are Launching Aerial Demonstrations Over Detention Centers Nationwide July 3, 2020