The Enemy Alien Files:Here, In America?
THE ASSEMBLY ON THE WARTIME RELOCATION AND INTERNMENT OF CIVILIANS (AWRIC)
The Assembly on Wartime Relocation & Internment of Civilians (AWRIC) was an historic public testimonial event held on April 8 & 9, 2005 at Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, California. Involving over 23 community organizations, more than 64 participants, and scores of staff and volunteers, this exciting gathering served to document and preserve the little known WWII stories of immigrants of German, Italian and Japanese ancestry (in the US and from Latin America) as well as the experiences of the Arab, Muslim and South Asian communities who are being scapegoated as "the enemy" today.
It was an emotional, powerful two days of stories, some told publicly for the first time. Though separated by sixty years, the stories shared many similar elements: immigrants arrested and detained without charge, trial or access to attorneys, and interned for years or deported into war zones.
The AWRIC event provided an opportunity for the public to understand how government policies and actions have impacted individuals and communities, both US citizens and immigrants, and to consider what lessons can be drawn from our nation's past which can provide insight into issues we face today, especially our concerns about the need for national security and the preservation of our civil liberties.
“Most Americans still don’t know these things happened,” said Grace Shimizu, AWRIC Project Director. “Soon there will be no one left alive who remembers the events first-hand. We wanted to provide a forum to tell and document these stories so they can become part of the mainstream historical narrative.”
