RESOLUTION NO. RS2017-568

A resolution recognizing February 19, 2017 as a Day of Remembrance, commemorating the historical significance of Executive Order 9066 and the shared sense that discrimination against any individual based upon actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion would be a repetition of the mistakes of Executive Order 9066.

WHEREAS, on December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which led to:

(1) increased prejudice and suspicion toward Japanese Americans; and

(2) calls from civilians and public officials to remove Japanese Americans from the west coast of the United States; and

WHEREAS, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which led to:

(1) the exclusion of 120,000 Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens from the west coast of the United States; and

(2) the incarceration of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents of Japanese ancestry in internment camps during World War II; and

WHEREAS, President Gerald Ford formally rescinded Executive Order 9066 in Presidential Proclamation 4417, dated February 19, 1976, which:

(1) states that Japanese Americans were and are loyal people of the United States who have contributed to the well-being and security of the United States;

(2) states that the issuance of Executive Order 9066 was a grave mistake in United States history; and

(3) resolves that actions such as the actions authorized by Executive Order 9066 shall never happen again; and

WHEREAS, the Constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 had been previously upheld by a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1944) which has since been overruled by the court of history; and

WHEREAS, the decision in Korematsu v. United States has been widely condemned as one of the most unjust decisions rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, Japanese Americans in Davidson County and around the country recognize February 19TH as a National Day of Remembrance; and

WHEREAS, February 19, 2017 is the 75th anniversary of the issuance of Executive Order 9066; and

WHEREAS, this Day of Remembrance is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of upholding justice and civil liberties for all people of Davidson County; to oppose hate, xenophobia, and bigotry; and to recognize the positive contributions that people of Davidson County of every race, ethnicity, religion, and national origin have made to our community; and

WHEREAS, policies that discriminate against any individual based upon the actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion of that individual would be a repetition of the mistakes of Executive Order 9066 and Korematsu v. United States and are contrary to the values of Davidson County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as supporting the goals of the Japanese American community in recognizing February 19, 2017 as a National Day of Remembrance to increase public awareness about the unjust measures taken to restrict the freedom of Japanese Americans during World War II and to resist repeating such unjust historical mistakes.

Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Mina Johnson, Nick Leonardo, Scott Davis, Brett Withers, Doug Pardue, Jeff Syracuse, Colby Sledge, Burkley Allen, Freddie O'Connell, Jeremy Elrod, Karen Johnson, Fabian Bedne, Angie Henderson, Dave Rosenberg, Tanaka Vercher, Anthony Davis