For the past several years, the Beachhead has been advocating a memorial marker or other remembrance at the corner of Venice Blvd. and Lincoln Blvd. where local Japanese families were gathered together and shipped to concentration camps in 1942.
Many were U.S. citizens and many were small children. None had been accused of any disloyalty during World War II. Their only crime was that they were of Japanese ancestry.
Now, at long last, some recognition of the terrible wrong that was done to our neighbors may be forthcoming.
Below are some of the letters that Venice students have written to Councilmember Bill Rosendahl and to the Beachhead. If all goes right, a ever-present reminder that human dignity and civil rights need constant vigilance if we are to have the right to call ourselves a civilized country and city.
In particular, the Beachhead would like to thank Phyllis Hayashibara, a teacher at Venice High for getting the ball rolling.
You can express your support by emailing Bill Rosendahl at [email protected] and the Beachhead at [email protected]
___________
My name is Athena, and I am a Junior enrolled in Ms. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class at Venice High School. Please give your support towards the building of a monument in the Venice community.
In April of 1942, hundreds of Venetians of Japanese ancestry were assembled at the northwest corner of Lincoln and Venice Boulevards. From this historic intersection, Japanese Americans were bused to assembly centers and then internment camps all over the U.S. Under the Executive Order 9066, military officials were given the power to limit the civil rights of Japanese Americans. Because of this order, Japanese Americans had curfews and were even forced to leave their homes and be shipped to internment camps without any due process. The Venice community would like to commemorate the Japanese Americans who lost their homes and their rights. Please support the building of a memorial for the victims of Executive Order 9066.
Sincerely,
Athena Padilla
–––––
I’m proud to say I support the actions needed to erect a monument, or sculpture on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards to commemorate the relocation of thousands of Japanese Americans, definitely an enormous decision in U.S. history.
This monument will clearly show the people of Venice, and every citizen who passes at this monument, how easy it is to loose our precious democratic rights. Besides, the monument’s symbolic meaning, it marks the historical setting where Japanese Americans gathered, to be relocated. My name is Scott Pine, and I’m a junior at Venice High School in Ms. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class.
I found out about this tremendous idea in an article in the Free Venice Beachhead. I believe the best way to reach out to individuals about the building of this structure is to spread awareness about this preposterous and shameful, yet important event in Venice History. I hope the purpose and meaning behind a monument is enough to the city of Venice and its citizens to allow it to be erected.
Sincerely, Scott Pine
_____
Hello, my name is Edwin Santiago and I am a student at Venice High School. I am currently in Ms. Hayashibara’s class and I have heard about the commemorative marker the Venice Beachhead, the free newspaper, wants to put on the corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevard. This is a tremendous action of all who are involved, and I applaud this. I have learned about the Japanese American Internment Camps at Venice High School.
The relocation of 120,000 Japanese Americans in 1942 was a violation of habeas corpus, due process, and constitutional rights. Even though it was deemed a “military necessity,” it was not right to relocate them. I also know that if people of Japanese ancestry refused to be relocated to the camp, they would be imprisoned and/or fined. The area of containment included Washington, Oregon and California.
Please support a memorial in recognition of the thousands of Japanese Americans will allow me to never forget about the past wrongdoings of the United States.
Sincerely, Edwin Santiago
______
Hello, my name is Tara Gruchalski, and I attend Venice High School. I would like you to support a commemorate marker or monument on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. It would be a marker to remember the Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps because of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, and the locals of Japanese descent assembled on Venice and Lincoln to get on buses to their next destination, an assembly center at fair grounds or race tracks.
Removing the Japanese Americans from their homes without due process was unconstitutional, and should be remembered so it will not occur once again. The Venice Beachhead has begun a campaign to support a commemorative marker. Having the marker on the corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd will bring awareness to the locals the history of the Japanese American internment during World War II.
Sincerely, Tara Gruchalski
–––––
My name is Mallory Roque, and I am a junior attending Venice Senior High School. I am also a proud member of the New Media Academy, a program that teaches students about filmmaking, web designing, animation, and photography. I am writing to help in the commemoration of the Japanese American experience during World War II.
The Free Venice Beachhead and I believe that there should be a monument on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd, where people of Japanese ancestry were forced to gather so they could be put on buses. This marker would remind others how easy it is to lose our democratic rights.
The relocation and internment of 120,000 Japanese American clearly violated their constitutional rights. President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, apologizing for the internment and paid $20,000 to each surviving internee. Although President Reagan did pay $20,000, the money will not make up for all the time lost in the camps. A monument should be that reminder of the Japanese Americans went through, and it should not happen again..
Sincerely, Mallory Roque
_____
Hello, my name is Ashley Roque. I am seventeen years old, and I attend Venice HIgh School. I am also a part of the New Media Academy at Venice High School. I would like you to support a memorial marker or sculpture at the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. I believe that this marker would help people remember the roundup of the Japanese Americans, which took place at that corner on April 25, 1942. This monument would also spread awareness of the constitutional rights that were denied to the Japanese Americans that were relocated. This kind of event should never happen again, and I believe that this monumental marker would help be a reminder, so it won’t happen again to another minority group. I think this commemorative maker, and whoever supports it, is doing a civic duty to the community. This monument will show the United States’ apology to all the Japanese Americans that experienced this unconstitutional event. I would like your support in the construction of this monument. Thank you.
Sincerely, Ashley Roque
______
My name is Alonso Ordaz and I attend Venice High school.Recently in my honors U.S. History class we were studying the Japanese American relocation internment during World War 2. Executive order 9066 enabled the relocation and internment of 120,000 Japanese”Aliens and non Aliens” from Washington, Oregon, and California. These actions must be understood in terms of the violation of their constitutional rights and suspension of writ of habeas corpus and due process. On April 25, 1942 hundreds of Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to assemble at the corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds, where they were put on buses and taken to camps in the interior of the U.S. I would like you to support the building of a memorial or a monument on the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds.This would commemorate the Japanese Americans gathering at that corner on April 25,1942 and remind us how easy it is to lose our constitutional rights in the face of Social prejudice.
Sincerely, Alonso Ordaz
–––––
My name is Jimmy, and I am a junior at Venice High School in the New Media Academy, in Ms.Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class. I am writing you this letter to gain your support towards a monument on the northeast corner of Lincoln and Venice blvd.
Under Executive Order 90066, Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to line up at the intersection of Venice and Lincoln blvds on April 24, 1942. They were then shipped to internment camps throughout the U.S. Japanese Americans had curfews and were forced to leave behind their homes and some of their possessions to go start a new life in an internment camp. Many had nowhere to go once released from the camps, and had to start totally new lives. Japanese Americans were stripped of their constitutional rights and deserve some sort of monument for their struggle. Please support the building of a memorial for the victims of the Japanese American internment.
Sincerely, Jimmy Solis
–––––
I’m Ulysses from Venice High. I’m part of Ms. Hayashibara’s New Media Academy (NMA) Honors U.S History Class. The NMA teaches us how to use video cameras and computer programs. I’ve been informed that we might get to visit City Council. If we do, maybe we can record our visit and give you a copy.
I understand that on April 25,1942 Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to gather at Lincoln and Venice, to leave the area and were put in interment camps. Then in 1944 Gordon Hirabayashi stood up on behalf of every one against the curfew and the isolation of the Japanese Americans. Now Venice Beach head is trying to gather support for a monument in commemoration of this tragedy. Please consider lending your support to this commemorative marker in Venice.
Sincerely, Ulysses Fletes
_____
My name is Ivan Peña-Lelesque. I am sixteen years old, and I am a junior at Venice High School. In my U.S. History class, we started learning about the Japanese American Internment Camps, and I found out that many Japanese assembled at Venice and Lincoln Blvds in 1942, and were put on buses and taken to assembly centers and War Relocation camps in violation of their civil rights.
I think it will be a great idea to do something to commemorate this event, such as erecting a sculpture or a monument so people who do not know about this event, will get a chance to learn about it. I realized many of these Japanese people lost all their belongings, and their descendants will be please to see a commemoration to their ancestors. There are very few monuments throughout the whole united states about Japanese American Internment, and this would be a great local place to build a monument. My dad,mom, and sister are all supporting this idea. I thank you for reading this letter, and I really hope this idea will become a reality to everybody.
Sincerely, Ivan Peña-Lelesque
–––––
I am Rodrigo Garcia, and I am currently a junior at Venice high School. Recently, my U.S. History class has been discussing the Japanese American relocation and internment. I learned that executive order 90066 violated the rights of the Japanese Americans in 1942. Americans of Japanese ancestry had to be gathered up and sent to War Relocation Authority Camps under armed guard. One of the locations where the Japanese Americans gathered happens to be the northwest corner at Lincoln and Venice Blvds.
I hope that you, Mr. Rosendahl, will support a proposal to build a marker at this location in order to commemorate this event. Personally, I strongly support this proposal because it is an important issue regarding civil liberties and a lesson on how easily rights can be denied. I want to thank you for bringing the issue up at the City Council because this helps inform all types of people of what is going on in this city.
Sincerely, Rodrigo Garcia
–––––
My name is David Del Valle, and I am a student from Venice High School in Mrs. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S History class. We are studying World War II and the Japanese American internment. I write this e-mail to support the act of putting a marker on the corner of Lincoln and Venice to remember the Japanese American who were interned after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. That was the corner that the Japanese Americans stood on before they boarded the buses that took them to the assembly centers and war Relocated Authority camps.
The marker would help people know what had happened there and even bring back memories. It also reminds us that powerless citizens have suffered and have their rights stripped away by the government. That marker would be another way we could say you matter, and we are sorry. This marker would be educational because it would teach tourists and other people who pass by. I hope that you would take into consideration this marker.
Sincerely, David Del Valle
_____
Hello, my name is Daniel Lopez, and I attend Venice High School. I would like to ask you if you can help put up a marker on Lincoln and Venice Blvd. On December 7, 1941, the U.S was attacked by the Japanese in Pearl Harbor. Many lives were lost, and as a result the U.S Government launched an order called Executive Order 9066. This order forced 120,000 Japanese-American citizens on the West coast into internment camps.
In the Venice area many Japanese-Americans had to line up on the Lincoln and Venice Boulevards then were driven off to an assembly center, then a war relocation camp. I think it would be a really good idea to commemorate such an event that happened here in Venice with a statue or marker of some sort. Thank you for reading this and hopefully this and other letters will help us remember this event in history.
Sincerely, Daniel Lopez
_____
My name is Felix Barron, and I am in Ms. Hayashibara’s U.S. History class at Venice High School. I am sending you this email on behalf of a possible monument at the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds to remember the Japanese-American Internment. I think that putting a marker or monument here in Venice would be a great idea because the Japanese-American Internment was such an important part of our nation’s history. On April 25, 1942, all persons of Japanese ancestry in the Venice area were forced to report to Venice and Lincoln to be put on buses and taken to camps.
In these concentration camps, Japanese-Americans were mistreated by guards, given very little food, and given no rights due to Executive Order 9066 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It wasn’t until 1976 that E.O. 9066 was appealed. In 1988, President Reagan signed legislation that apologized for the internment and appropriated over one billion dollars in reparations to surviving internees. After this, however, the history of the Japanese-American Internment slowly began to fade, which is why we need the monument here in Venice. Only with this monument can the legacy of the Japanese-American Internment be remembered, so please support putting up a monument here in Venice so that we won’t make the same mistakes again.
Sincerely, Felix Barron
_____
My name is William J. Quinteros, I am in the 11th grade, and I am a student at Venice High School. Right now, I am taking U.S. History, and my teacher is Ms. Hayashibara. Recently, I learned about World War II and what happened after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The U.S. government decided to take the Japanese-American people living on the west coast to concentration camps. I also learned that Japanese-American people in Venice had to gather at the corner of Venice and Lincoln on April 12, 1942, before being taken to concentration camps.
I know that the U.S. government later apologized for this act, but I know that this incident must not be forgotten. I support the making of a monument at the intersection of Venice and Lincoln to remember this sad, but important incident. I just want to thank you for reading this, and I hope you will think about it.
Sincerely, William J. Quinteros
_____
My name is Juan Perez, and I am a Junior at Venice High School. This past month I heard about the monument that is being proposed for the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. I am writing this letter to show my support for such a marker, and hope you will support it too. Over 120,000 Japanese Americans were evacuated from California, Oregon and Washington, some at the corner of Venice and Lincoln and relocated to the interior of the United States.
I don’t want to forget about the relocated Japanese Americans, and I don’t want other people to forget either. People should remember this event so we do not make the same mistake again with another ethnic or religious group of people. If this monument is put up, the children and grandchildren of the Japanese Americans who were sent to this camp will have something to remember their ancestors. Once again I would like to state that I support the monument being built.
Sincerely, Juan Perez
_____
My name is Athena, and I am a Junior enrolled in Ms. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class at Venice High School. Please give your support towards the building of a monument in the Venice community.
In April of 1942, hundreds of Venetians of Japanese ancestry were assembled at the northwest corner of Lincoln and Venice Boulevards. From this historic intersection, Japanese Americans were bused to assembly centers and then internment camps all over the U.S. Under the Executive Order 9066, military officials were given the power to limit the civil rights of Japanese Americans. Because of this order, Japanese Americans had curfews and were even forced to leave their homes and be shipped to internment camps without any due process. The Venice community would like to commemorate the Japanese Americans who lost their homes and their rights. Please support the building of a memorial for the victims of Executive Order 9066.
Sincerely,
Athena Padilla
–––––
I’m proud to say I support the actions needed to erect a monument, or sculpture on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards to commemorate the relocation of thousands of Japanese Americans, definitely an enormous decision in U.S. history.
This monument will clearly show the people of Venice, and every citizen who passes at this monument, how easy it is to loose our precious democratic rights. Besides, the monument’s symbolic meaning, it marks the historical setting where Japanese Americans gathered, to be relocated. My name is Scott Pine, and I’m a junior at Venice High School in Ms. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class.
I found out about this tremendous idea in an article in the Free Venice Beachhead. I believe the best way to reach out to individuals about the building of this structure is to spread awareness about this preposterous and shameful, yet important event in Venice History. I hope the purpose and meaning behind a monument is enough to the city of Venice and its citizens to allow it to be erected.
Sincerely, Scott Pine
_____
Hello, my name is Edwin Santiago and I am a student at Venice High School. I am currently in Ms. Hayashibara’s class and I have heard about the commemorative marker the Venice Beachhead, the free newspaper, wants to put on the corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevard. This is a tremendous action of all who are involved, and I applaud this. I have learned about the Japanese American Internment Camps at Venice High School.
The relocation of 120,000 Japanese Americans in 1942 was a violation of habeas corpus, due process, and constitutional rights. Even though it was deemed a “military necessity,” it was not right to relocate them. I also know that if people of Japanese ancestry refused to be relocated to the camp, they would be imprisoned and/or fined. The area of containment included Washington, Oregon and California.
Please support a memorial in recognition of the thousands of Japanese Americans will allow me to never forget about the past wrongdoings of the United States.
Sincerely, Edwin Santiago
______
Hello, my name is Tara Gruchalski, and I attend Venice High School. I would like you to support a commemorate marker or monument on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. It would be a marker to remember the Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps because of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, and the locals of Japanese descent assembled on Venice and Lincoln to get on buses to their next destination, an assembly center at fair grounds or race tracks.
Removing the Japanese Americans from their homes without due process was unconstitutional, and should be remembered so it will not occur once again. The Venice Beachhead has begun a campaign to support a commemorative marker. Having the marker on the corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd will bring awareness to the locals the history of the Japanese American internment during World War II.
Sincerely, Tara Gruchalski
–––––
My name is Mallory Roque, and I am a junior attending Venice Senior High School. I am also a proud member of the New Media Academy, a program that teaches students about filmmaking, web designing, animation, and photography. I am writing to help in the commemoration of the Japanese American experience during World War II.
The Free Venice Beachhead and I believe that there should be a monument on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd, where people of Japanese ancestry were forced to gather so they could be put on buses. This marker would remind others how easy it is to lose our democratic rights.
The relocation and internment of 120,000 Japanese American clearly violated their constitutional rights. President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, apologizing for the internment and paid $20,000 to each surviving internee. Although President Reagan did pay $20,000, the money will not make up for all the time lost in the camps. A monument should be that reminder of the Japanese Americans went through, and it should not happen again..
Sincerely, Mallory Roque
_____
Hello, my name is Ashley Roque. I am seventeen years old, and I attend Venice HIgh School. I am also a part of the New Media Academy at Venice High School. I would like you to support a memorial marker or sculpture at the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. I believe that this marker would help people remember the roundup of the Japanese Americans, which took place at that corner on April 25, 1942. This monument would also spread awareness of the constitutional rights that were denied to the Japanese Americans that were relocated. This kind of event should never happen again, and I believe that this monumental marker would help be a reminder, so it won’t happen again to another minority group. I think this commemorative maker, and whoever supports it, is doing a civic duty to the community. This monument will show the United States’ apology to all the Japanese Americans that experienced this unconstitutional event. I would like your support in the construction of this monument. Thank you.
Sincerely, Ashley Roque
______
My name is Alonso Ordaz and I attend Venice High school.Recently in my honors U.S. History class we were studying the Japanese American relocation internment during World War 2. Executive order 9066 enabled the relocation and internment of 120,000 Japanese”Aliens and non Aliens” from Washington, Oregon, and California. These actions must be understood in terms of the violation of their constitutional rights and suspension of writ of habeas corpus and due process. On April 25, 1942 hundreds of Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to assemble at the corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds, where they were put on buses and taken to camps in the interior of the U.S. I would like you to support the building of a memorial or a monument on the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds.This would commemorate the Japanese Americans gathering at that corner on April 25,1942 and remind us how easy it is to lose our constitutional rights in the face of Social prejudice.
Sincerely, Alonso Ordaz
–––––
My name is Jimmy, and I am a junior at Venice High School in the New Media Academy, in Ms.Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class. I am writing you this letter to gain your support towards a monument on the northeast corner of Lincoln and Venice blvd.
Under Executive Order 90066, Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to line up at the intersection of Venice and Lincoln blvds on April 24, 1942. They were then shipped to internment camps throughout the U.S. Japanese Americans had curfews and were forced to leave behind their homes and some of their possessions to go start a new life in an internment camp. Many had nowhere to go once released from the camps, and had to start totally new lives. Japanese Americans were stripped of their constitutional rights and deserve some sort of monument for their struggle. Please support the building of a memorial for the victims of the Japanese American internment.
Sincerely, Jimmy Solis
–––––
I’m Ulysses from Venice High. I’m part of Ms. Hayashibara’s New Media Academy (NMA) Honors U.S History Class. The NMA teaches us how to use video cameras and computer programs. I’ve been informed that we might get to visit City Council. If we do, maybe we can record our visit and give you a copy.
I understand that on April 25,1942 Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to gather at Lincoln and Venice, to leave the area and were put in interment camps. Then in 1944 Gordon Hirabayashi stood up on behalf of every one against the curfew and the isolation of the Japanese Americans. Now Venice Beach head is trying to gather support for a monument in commemoration of this tragedy. Please consider lending your support to this commemorative marker in Venice.
Sincerely, Ulysses Fletes
_____
My name is Ivan Peña-Lelesque. I am sixteen years old, and I am a junior at Venice High School. In my U.S. History class, we started learning about the Japanese American Internment Camps, and I found out that many Japanese assembled at Venice and Lincoln Blvds in 1942, and were put on buses and taken to assembly centers and War Relocation camps in violation of their civil rights.
I think it will be a great idea to do something to commemorate this event, such as erecting a sculpture or a monument so people who do not know about this event, will get a chance to learn about it. I realized many of these Japanese people lost all their belongings, and their descendants will be please to see a commemoration to their ancestors. There are very few monuments throughout the whole united states about Japanese American Internment, and this would be a great local place to build a monument. My dad,mom, and sister are all supporting this idea. I thank you for reading this letter, and I really hope this idea will become a reality to everybody.
Sincerely, Ivan Peña-Lelesque
–––––
I am Rodrigo Garcia, and I am currently a junior at Venice high School. Recently, my U.S. History class has been discussing the Japanese American relocation and internment. I learned that executive order 90066 violated the rights of the Japanese Americans in 1942. Americans of Japanese ancestry had to be gathered up and sent to War Relocation Authority Camps under armed guard. One of the locations where the Japanese Americans gathered happens to be the northwest corner at Lincoln and Venice Blvds.
I hope that you, Mr. Rosendahl, will support a proposal to build a marker at this location in order to commemorate this event. Personally, I strongly support this proposal because it is an important issue regarding civil liberties and a lesson on how easily rights can be denied. I want to thank you for bringing the issue up at the City Council because this helps inform all types of people of what is going on in this city.
Sincerely, Rodrigo Garcia
–––––
My name is David Del Valle, and I am a student from Venice High School in Mrs. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S History class. We are studying World War II and the Japanese American internment. I write this e-mail to support the act of putting a marker on the corner of Lincoln and Venice to remember the Japanese American who were interned after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. That was the corner that the Japanese Americans stood on before they boarded the buses that took them to the assembly centers and war Relocated Authority camps.
The marker would help people know what had happened there and even bring back memories. It also reminds us that powerless citizens have suffered and have their rights stripped away by the government. That marker would be another way we could say you matter, and we are sorry. This marker would be educational because it would teach tourists and other people who pass by. I hope that you would take into consideration this marker.
Sincerely, David Del Valle
_____
Hello, my name is Daniel Lopez, and I attend Venice High School. I would like to ask you if you can help put up a marker on Lincoln and Venice Blvd. On December 7, 1941, the U.S was attacked by the Japanese in Pearl Harbor. Many lives were lost, and as a result the U.S Government launched an order called Executive Order 9066. This order forced 120,000 Japanese-American citizens on the West coast into internment camps.
In the Venice area many Japanese-Americans had to line up on the Lincoln and Venice Boulevards then were driven off to an assembly center, then a war relocation camp. I think it would be a really good idea to commemorate such an event that happened here in Venice with a statue or marker of some sort. Thank you for reading this and hopefully this and other letters will help us remember this event in history.
Sincerely, Daniel Lopez
_____
My name is Felix Barron, and I am in Ms. Hayashibara’s U.S. History class at Venice High School. I am sending you this email on behalf of a possible monument at the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds to remember the Japanese-American Internment. I think that putting a marker or monument here in Venice would be a great idea because the Japanese-American Internment was such an important part of our nation’s history. On April 25, 1942, all persons of Japanese ancestry in the Venice area were forced to report to Venice and Lincoln to be put on buses and taken to camps.
In these concentration camps, Japanese-Americans were mistreated by guards, given very little food, and given no rights due to Executive Order 9066 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It wasn’t until 1976 that E.O. 9066 was appealed. In 1988, President Reagan signed legislation that apologized for the internment and appropriated over one billion dollars in reparations to surviving internees. After this, however, the history of the Japanese-American Internment slowly began to fade, which is why we need the monument here in Venice. Only with this monument can the legacy of the Japanese-American Internment be remembered, so please support putting up a monument here in Venice so that we won’t make the same mistakes again.
Sincerely, Felix Barron
_____
My name is William J. Quinteros, I am in the 11th grade, and I am a student at Venice High School. Right now, I am taking U.S. History, and my teacher is Ms. Hayashibara. Recently, I learned about World War II and what happened after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The U.S. government decided to take the Japanese-American people living on the west coast to concentration camps. I also learned that Japanese-American people in Venice had to gather at the corner of Venice and Lincoln on April 12, 1942, before being taken to concentration camps.
I know that the U.S. government later apologized for this act, but I know that this incident must not be forgotten. I support the making of a monument at the intersection of Venice and Lincoln to remember this sad, but important incident. I just want to thank you for reading this, and I hope you will think about it.
Sincerely, William J. Quinteros
_____
My name is Juan Perez, and I am a Junior at Venice High School. This past month I heard about the monument that is being proposed for the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. I am writing this letter to show my support for such a marker, and hope you will support it too. Over 120,000 Japanese Americans were evacuated from California, Oregon and Washington, some at the corner of Venice and Lincoln and relocated to the interior of the United States.
I don’t want to forget about the relocated Japanese Americans, and I don’t want other people to forget either. People should remember this event so we do not make the same mistake again with another ethnic or religious group of people. If this monument is put up, the children and grandchildren of the Japanese Americans who were sent to this camp will have something to remember their ancestors. Once again I would like to state that I support the monument being built.
Sincerely, Juan Perez
_____My name is Athena, and I am a Junior enrolled in Ms. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class at Venice High School. Please give your support towards the building of a monument in the Venice community.
In April of 1942, hundreds of Venetians of Japanese ancestry were assembled at the northwest corner of Lincoln and Venice Boulevards. From this historic intersection, Japanese Americans were bused to assembly centers and then internment camps all over the U.S. Under the Executive Order 9066, military officials were given the power to limit the civil rights of Japanese Americans. Because of this order, Japanese Americans had curfews and were even forced to leave their homes and be shipped to internment camps without any due process. The Venice community would like to commemorate the Japanese Americans who lost their homes and their rights. Please support the building of a memorial for the victims of Executive Order 9066.
Sincerely,
Athena Padilla
–––––
I’m proud to say I support the actions needed to erect a monument, or sculpture on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards to commemorate the relocation of thousands of Japanese Americans, definitely an enormous decision in U.S. history.
This monument will clearly show the people of Venice, and every citizen who passes at this monument, how easy it is to loose our precious democratic rights. Besides, the monument’s symbolic meaning, it marks the historical setting where Japanese Americans gathered, to be relocated. My name is Scott Pine, and I’m a junior at Venice High School in Ms. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class.
I found out about this tremendous idea in an article in the Free Venice Beachhead. I believe the best way to reach out to individuals about the building of this structure is to spread awareness about this preposterous and shameful, yet important event in Venice History. I hope the purpose and meaning behind a monument is enough to the city of Venice and its citizens to allow it to be erected.
Sincerely, Scott Pine
_____
Hello, my name is Edwin Santiago and I am a student at Venice High School. I am currently in Ms. Hayashibara’s class and I have heard about the commemorative marker the Venice Beachhead, the free newspaper, wants to put on the corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevard. This is a tremendous action of all who are involved, and I applaud this. I have learned about the Japanese American Internment Camps at Venice High School.
The relocation of 120,000 Japanese Americans in 1942 was a violation of habeas corpus, due process, and constitutional rights. Even though it was deemed a “military necessity,” it was not right to relocate them. I also know that if people of Japanese ancestry refused to be relocated to the camp, they would be imprisoned and/or fined. The area of containment included Washington, Oregon and California.
Please support a memorial in recognition of the thousands of Japanese Americans will allow me to never forget about the past wrongdoings of the United States.
Sincerely, Edwin Santiago
______
Hello, my name is Tara Gruchalski, and I attend Venice High School. I would like you to support a commemorate marker or monument on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. It would be a marker to remember the Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps because of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, and the locals of Japanese descent assembled on Venice and Lincoln to get on buses to their next destination, an assembly center at fair grounds or race tracks.
Removing the Japanese Americans from their homes without due process was unconstitutional, and should be remembered so it will not occur once again. The Venice Beachhead has begun a campaign to support a commemorative marker. Having the marker on the corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd will bring awareness to the locals the history of the Japanese American internment during World War II.
Sincerely, Tara Gruchalski
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My name is Mallory Roque, and I am a junior attending Venice Senior High School. I am also a proud member of the New Media Academy, a program that teaches students about filmmaking, web designing, animation, and photography. I am writing to help in the commemoration of the Japanese American experience during World War II.
The Free Venice Beachhead and I believe that there should be a monument on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd, where people of Japanese ancestry were forced to gather so they could be put on buses. This marker would remind others how easy it is to lose our democratic rights.
The relocation and internment of 120,000 Japanese American clearly violated their constitutional rights. President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, apologizing for the internment and paid $20,000 to each surviving internee. Although President Reagan did pay $20,000, the money will not make up for all the time lost in the camps. A monument should be that reminder of the Japanese Americans went through, and it should not happen again..
Sincerely, Mallory Roque
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Hello, my name is Ashley Roque. I am seventeen years old, and I attend Venice HIgh School. I am also a part of the New Media Academy at Venice High School. I would like you to support a memorial marker or sculpture at the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. I believe that this marker would help people remember the roundup of the Japanese Americans, which took place at that corner on April 25, 1942. This monument would also spread awareness of the constitutional rights that were denied to the Japanese Americans that were relocated. This kind of event should never happen again, and I believe that this monumental marker would help be a reminder, so it won’t happen again to another minority group. I think this commemorative maker, and whoever supports it, is doing a civic duty to the community. This monument will show the United States’ apology to all the Japanese Americans that experienced this unconstitutional event. I would like your support in the construction of this monument. Thank you.
Sincerely, Ashley Roque
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My name is Alonso Ordaz and I attend Venice High school.Recently in my honors U.S. History class we were studying the Japanese American relocation internment during World War 2. Executive order 9066 enabled the relocation and internment of 120,000 Japanese”Aliens and non Aliens” from Washington, Oregon, and California. These actions must be understood in terms of the violation of their constitutional rights and suspension of writ of habeas corpus and due process. On April 25, 1942 hundreds of Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to assemble at the corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds, where they were put on buses and taken to camps in the interior of the U.S. I would like you to support the building of a memorial or a monument on the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds.This would commemorate the Japanese Americans gathering at that corner on April 25,1942 and remind us how easy it is to lose our constitutional rights in the face of Social prejudice.
Sincerely, Alonso Ordaz
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My name is Jimmy, and I am a junior at Venice High School in the New Media Academy, in Ms.Hayashibara’s Honors U.S. History class. I am writing you this letter to gain your support towards a monument on the northeast corner of Lincoln and Venice blvd.
Under Executive Order 90066, Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to line up at the intersection of Venice and Lincoln blvds on April 24, 1942. They were then shipped to internment camps throughout the U.S. Japanese Americans had curfews and were forced to leave behind their homes and some of their possessions to go start a new life in an internment camp. Many had nowhere to go once released from the camps, and had to start totally new lives. Japanese Americans were stripped of their constitutional rights and deserve some sort of monument for their struggle. Please support the building of a memorial for the victims of the Japanese American internment.
Sincerely, Jimmy Solis
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I’m Ulysses from Venice High. I’m part of Ms. Hayashibara’s New Media Academy (NMA) Honors U.S History Class. The NMA teaches us how to use video cameras and computer programs. I’ve been informed that we might get to visit City Council. If we do, maybe we can record our visit and give you a copy.
I understand that on April 25,1942 Venetians of Japanese ancestry were forced to gather at Lincoln and Venice, to leave the area and were put in interment camps. Then in 1944 Gordon Hirabayashi stood up on behalf of every one against the curfew and the isolation of the Japanese Americans. Now Venice Beach head is trying to gather support for a monument in commemoration of this tragedy. Please consider lending your support to this commemorative marker in Venice.
Sincerely, Ulysses Fletes
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My name is Ivan Peña-Lelesque. I am sixteen years old, and I am a junior at Venice High School. In my U.S. History class, we started learning about the Japanese American Internment Camps, and I found out that many Japanese assembled at Venice and Lincoln Blvds in 1942, and were put on buses and taken to assembly centers and War Relocation camps in violation of their civil rights.
I think it will be a great idea to do something to commemorate this event, such as erecting a sculpture or a monument so people who do not know about this event, will get a chance to learn about it. I realized many of these Japanese people lost all their belongings, and their descendants will be please to see a commemoration to their ancestors. There are very few monuments throughout the whole united states about Japanese American Internment, and this would be a great local place to build a monument. My dad,mom, and sister are all supporting this idea. I thank you for reading this letter, and I really hope this idea will become a reality to everybody.
Sincerely, Ivan Peña-Lelesque
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I am Rodrigo Garcia, and I am currently a junior at Venice high School. Recently, my U.S. History class has been discussing the Japanese American relocation and internment. I learned that executive order 90066 violated the rights of the Japanese Americans in 1942. Americans of Japanese ancestry had to be gathered up and sent to War Relocation Authority Camps under armed guard. One of the locations where the Japanese Americans gathered happens to be the northwest corner at Lincoln and Venice Blvds.
I hope that you, Mr. Rosendahl, will support a proposal to build a marker at this location in order to commemorate this event. Personally, I strongly support this proposal because it is an important issue regarding civil liberties and a lesson on how easily rights can be denied. I want to thank you for bringing the issue up at the City Council because this helps inform all types of people of what is going on in this city.
Sincerely, Rodrigo Garcia
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My name is David Del Valle, and I am a student from Venice High School in Mrs. Hayashibara’s Honors U.S History class. We are studying World War II and the Japanese American internment. I write this e-mail to support the act of putting a marker on the corner of Lincoln and Venice to remember the Japanese American who were interned after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. That was the corner that the Japanese Americans stood on before they boarded the buses that took them to the assembly centers and war Relocated Authority camps.
The marker would help people know what had happened there and even bring back memories. It also reminds us that powerless citizens have suffered and have their rights stripped away by the government. That marker would be another way we could say you matter, and we are sorry. This marker would be educational because it would teach tourists and other people who pass by. I hope that you would take into consideration this marker.
Sincerely, David Del Valle
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Hello, my name is Daniel Lopez, and I attend Venice High School. I would like to ask you if you can help put up a marker on Lincoln and Venice Blvd. On December 7, 1941, the U.S was attacked by the Japanese in Pearl Harbor. Many lives were lost, and as a result the U.S Government launched an order called Executive Order 9066. This order forced 120,000 Japanese-American citizens on the West coast into internment camps.
In the Venice area many Japanese-Americans had to line up on the Lincoln and Venice Boulevards then were driven off to an assembly center, then a war relocation camp. I think it would be a really good idea to commemorate such an event that happened here in Venice with a statue or marker of some sort. Thank you for reading this and hopefully this and other letters will help us remember this event in history.
Sincerely, Daniel Lopez
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My name is Felix Barron, and I am in Ms. Hayashibara’s U.S. History class at Venice High School. I am sending you this email on behalf of a possible monument at the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvds to remember the Japanese-American Internment. I think that putting a marker or monument here in Venice would be a great idea because the Japanese-American Internment was such an important part of our nation’s history. On April 25, 1942, all persons of Japanese ancestry in the Venice area were forced to report to Venice and Lincoln to be put on buses and taken to camps.
In these concentration camps, Japanese-Americans were mistreated by guards, given very little food, and given no rights due to Executive Order 9066 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It wasn’t until 1976 that E.O. 9066 was appealed. In 1988, President Reagan signed legislation that apologized for the internment and appropriated over one billion dollars in reparations to surviving internees. After this, however, the history of the Japanese-American Internment slowly began to fade, which is why we need the monument here in Venice. Only with this monument can the legacy of the Japanese-American Internment be remembered, so please support putting up a monument here in Venice so that we won’t make the same mistakes again.
Sincerely, Felix Barron
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My name is William J. Quinteros, I am in the 11th grade, and I am a student at Venice High School. Right now, I am taking U.S. History, and my teacher is Ms. Hayashibara. Recently, I learned about World War II and what happened after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The U.S. government decided to take the Japanese-American people living on the west coast to concentration camps. I also learned that Japanese-American people in Venice had to gather at the corner of Venice and Lincoln on April 12, 1942, before being taken to concentration camps.
I know that the U.S. government later apologized for this act, but I know that this incident must not be forgotten. I support the making of a monument at the intersection of Venice and Lincoln to remember this sad, but important incident. I just want to thank you for reading this, and I hope you will think about it.
Sincerely, William J. Quinteros
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My name is Juan Perez, and I am a Junior at Venice High School. This past month I heard about the monument that is being proposed for the Northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Blvd. I am writing this letter to show my support for such a marker, and hope you will support it too. Over 120,000 Japanese Americans were evacuated from California, Oregon and Washington, some at the corner of Venice and Lincoln and relocated to the interior of the United States.
I don’t want to forget about the relocated Japanese Americans, and I don’t want other people to forget either. People should remember this event so we do not make the same mistake again with another ethnic or religious group of people. If this monument is put up, the children and grandchildren of the Japanese Americans who were sent to this camp will have something to remember their ancestors. Once again I would like to state that I support the monument being built.
Sincerely, Juan Perez
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