Tanforan Protest Recap
The roar of planes flying to and from San Francisco International Airport and the thunder of taiko drummers, greeted a crowd of four hundred at the Tanforan Memorial where the US government confined 6,000 Japanese Americans living in the Bay Area after being forcibly evicted from their homes in 1942 and then, by October 1942 shipped all to Topaz American concentration camp in Utah. Now gathered at the Tanforan Memorial, some dressed in 1942 clothing to commemorate the unjust, and racist incarceration of their ancestors, heard speakers young and old demand a stop to the inhumane, racist, and dangerous seizure, detention, and deportation of the immigrant communities. Large flags saying ICE OUT OF CA and giant cranes created by the late Akemi Ina set off the stage.
The speakers spoke personably. One MC Skyla, spoke personally as she, welcomed the crowd. “My family and so many others were deemed Enemy Aliens and a threat to the country. The United States government tore apart families and communities, forcing them to live in inhumane detention conditions, and fearmongering about the danger that we posed. That is why we are here today. To say no to the government that is targeting our immigrant neighbors. To say no to detention. To say no to state violence, and to get ICE out of California!”
Jon from JCYC opened by saying, “I am the proud son of a No-No,” referring to his father who protested his incarceration while confined in an American concentration camp because of race.
Mike Ishii, Executive Director of Tsuru for Solidarity spoke of his parents’ imprisonment in Minidoka American concentration camp and how that legacy created for himself and many in the Japanese community a gut determination to stand up for impacted immigrants. He reminded everyone of their collective strength and power they have as survivors and descendants and inspired them to take that strength and fight back, “When we fight back, we win.”
When Gala from the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity spoke, she shared the words of an impacted immigrant, fearful about the future and about the filthy and unhealthy condition of the detention site where her husband was held. The planes flying overhead to and from San Francisco International Airport seemed to punctuate and remind the crowd of the plight of their immigrant neighbors who could be quickly rounded up and sent in a plane to unknown parts without access to their families or lawyers. Gala called for solidarity and the need to come together to fight the expansion of ICE detention in California in places like California City and Dublin. As did, Guerlene, from Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA). Guerlene spoke about solidarity and the intersectional history of violence targeting communities of color. She rallied, “This is a moment for us to band together as a united front.” Other speakers included community organizers, local nonprofit organizational leaders, faith leaders, elders, and youth representatives from the Nikkei Student Union and the Japanese Community Youth Council.
A deep appreciation for the musical performance of “Tanforan” by members of Yokohama California, and taiko J drumming from Kongo Gumi that brought forth our humanity. And a huge thank you to all the Tsuru members and allies who created banners and signs at an art build before the rally and JA Families for Justice who ran the art table for kids and adults and set up space to create a family-friend rally, to say, “Stop Repeating History.”
