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Minoru Yasui Day and Jail Cell Dedication

April 1, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Join us for a very special Min Yasui Day, where we will officially dedicate the jail cell where Min spent nine months in solitary confinement fighting for justice for all Americans.

Behind These Bars: An Activist is Born

Saturday, April 1, 1-3pm
UO White Stag Building
70 NW Couch Street
Portland, OR 97209
and streaming live online

Register for in-person or livestream event here

Access the livestream here

This year’s program will feature:

The Man: Reflections from Dr. Homer Yasui, Honorary Chair of the Min Yasui Legacy Project and historian extraordinaire.

His Work: Reflections from Dr. Robin Yasui, Minoru Yasui’s niece, on Min’s life work as a Colorado attorney addressing injustice across all populations.  In addition to the Asian population for which he is most well-known, he advocated for the rights of women and LGBTQ community, Native and African Americans, Jews, and Latinos.

His Legacy Today: Panel: The importance and relevance of Min’s work across generations, from high school to social justice lawyers

  • Jessica Asai, a Yonsei, fourth generation Japanese American, was raised in Hood River, Oregon where her family has farmed for four generations. Since 2010, she has used her law degree to address civil rights compliance at Oregon Health & Science University where she conducts internal civil rights investigations and provides advice and training on civil rights, equity, and Title IX issues. She was the Minidoka Civil Liberties Symposium Speaker for 2020.
  • Weston Koyama, a Yonsei, fourth generation Japanese American, is currently working as a public defender in Portland, Oregon. His passion for this work is inspired by a desire to hold the state accountable, stemming from his ancestor’s unjust incarceration solely due to their ethnicity, during World War II. Weston advocates for marginalized communities and fights against systemic injustices in the criminal justice system.
  • Anna Reutin, is a second-year law student at the University of Oregon School of Law and two-time recipient of the Minoru Yasui Fellowship. Born and raised by a Japanese immigrant mother in Oregon, she is passionate about addressing issues regarding cultural competency and minority representation and is planning to pursue a legal career accordingly.

Behind These Bars: Dedication of the jail cell where Min spent nine months in solitary confinement fighting for justice for all Americans. While these bars could not confine Min’s spirit, the arduous journey of the cell from the Multnomah County Jail to its permanent resting place at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon in Portland symbolizes Min’s life work and how this spirit of an extraordinary activist was strengthened rather than diminished by confinement. Min’s determination and faith in our Constitution will be illustrated by the reading of a few poems written behind these bars.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Pillars of Justice

ACLU Oregon      Chop Yasui Fund, Gorge Community Foundation                                    University of Oregon Division of Equity and Inclusion

Minoru Yasui Stalwarts
Portland JACL
The Standard
University of Oregon School of Law

Minoru Yasui Legacy Boosters
Janet Hamada
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital
Jim & Lois Azumano

Friends of Minoru Yasui Day
Carl & Cynthia Asai
Beaverton School District Office of Equity and Inclusion
PeggyNagae Consulting
Riverside Community Church United Church of Christ

Supporters
Carol Annala
Tara Asai
Nunamaker Realty
Joella Dethman

Solidarity Sponsors
APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon)
Aragon High School, San Mateo, California
Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, Grant High School, Portland, Oregon
Oregon State Bar

 

The Minoru Yasui Day Program is one of JAMO’s key projects with the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project. We strongly encourage you to participate in person or virtually at the event on Saturday, April 1, from 1:00-3:00 pm by clicking the link to register.  You can also support Min’s Legacy of seeking “Justice for All” by making a donation or serving as a sponsor for this important event.

You can view the sponsorship opportunities here.

Details

Date:
April 1, 2023
Time:
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Event Categories:
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