“Loyal Citizens, Prisoners of War”: America’s Concentration Camps

Vi Takahashi was a young teenager living in Seattle, Washington, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Her father was arrested the night of Pearl Harbor and imprisoned in Ft Missoula, Montana. Her future husband lived in El Centro, California. This illustrated talk recounts their experiences during that stressful time when 120,000 Japanese, 70% of whom were American citizens, were classified as the “enemy”, the fear being they were a military danger. They were forced into concentration camps built in the desert and on swamp lands. In total there were ten camps and each member of the family was allowed to take one duffle bag for their belongings.

This event is free and open to the public!