San Jose, CA – On Sunday, February 15, more than 300 people gathered at San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin to commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066, which initiated the incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans into concentration camps during World War II.

Nihonmachi Outreach Committee has held the San Jose Day of Remembrance annually since 1981. The theme for this year’s event was “Neighbors, Not Enemies”, and began with an aspiration by Reverend John Oda of Wesley Methodist Church. Reverend Oda called for solidarity with the communities under attack from the Trump administration, including LGBTQ and immigrant communities. He highlighted the popular resistance to ICE activity in the Minneapolis area as an example of the action needed to protect our communities.

Vanessa Hatakeyama, emcee, said that the event is not only to honor and remember, but is also a call to act. Various local organizations had resource tables at the event, including San Jose Against War and Community Service Organization (CSO).

Keynote speaker Masao Suzuki drew a connection between the violence inflicted by ICE at home and the recent extra-judicial killings by the U.S. military in the Caribbean Sea and emphasized the responsibility of the masses to struggle against oppression.

Hatakeyama invited ten guests of honor to the front of the room, people who were incarcerated under EO 9066 or served for the U.S. during WWII. After this, Jake Shimada, a local musician, played an original piece on ukelele that he has composed over the past three years. The song represents resilience in the face of hardship and was dedicated to his family

Athar Siddeqee, chairman of the South Bay Islamic Association, was introduced to the stage to give a speech. He drew attention to the shared history of racist oppression endured by Japanese and Muslim Americans. Siddeqee spoke of the friendship and solidarity expressed by the Bay Area Japanese community following the events of September 11, 2001. At a time when Muslims faced increased racism, the Japanese community came to their doors and said, “We are here to support you and we have your back.” This story reflects that this year’s theme, Neighbors Not Enemies, is an integral part of the community’s values and actions and has been for generations.

After the speakers, the program moved to a candlelight vigil. Participants held electric candles and joined in a procession walking through the heart of Japantown before returning to the church.

#SanJoseCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #OppressedNationalities #SJAW #SJCSO

San Jose, CA – Over 1000 protesters marched and rallied during the Super Bowl LX, February 8, to demand Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out of San José. Activists, community organizations and unions rallied against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) threat to conduct immigration enforcement during the Super Bowl LX.

Since Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem first announced in October that ICE would be “all over” the Super Bowl, DHS and ICE have backtracked on their statements that the federal agencies will take part in immigration enforcement during the game. The Community Service Organization San José (CSO SJ) says the backtracking is the result of the grassroots preparation led by a broad coalition against Trump’s Agenda, which put ICE on the retreat.

CSO SJ, along with a broad coalition including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), San José District of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, The Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN) and Working Partnerships USA (WPUSA) and other local community organizations and unions, stayed firm in their decision to protest, emphasizing that officials’ assurances of “no mass raids” did not ensure safety from families being torn apart and arrests still occurring.

The rally took place near a local church, then took over the streets to march to an intersection near the stadium. The march included “Ice out” and “End the deportations” banners as well as signs bearing slogans such as “Killer ICE off our streets” and “Legalization for all.” Most notably, the protesters held portraits of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, demanding justice for the community legal observers who ICE shot and killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“We saw resistance bloom last month in Minneapolis,” said John Duroyan of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Duroyan noted the mass upsurge and resistance of the immigrant rights movement throughout the country, after ICE’s escalation of attacks towards Chicano, Mexican and Central American communities regardless of their legal status.

CSO SJ member Pan Breceda, as part of the Legalization for All network (L4A) stated, “CSO SJ fights for reforms like ‘legalization for all’ which will eliminate all basis of discrimination based on legal status.” Braceda noted the anniversary of the Treaty of Guadalupe of Hidalgo and its failures to secure civil and economic rights of Chicanos.

Amongst Braceda’s demands of no more money for ICE and no more deportations, CSO SJ announced the formation of the new San José Coalition Against Trump as an “action-based coalition that will not allow ICE, DHS, CBP or any federal agency to kidnap or harass our immigrant community members during the Super Bowl game and local events.”

The protest was attended by students ranging from high school to university, after an upsurge in student walkouts. Megan Sweet of Students for a Democratic Society SJSU stated that group, “has continued to demand San Jose State University divest from funds withholdings in companies that directly facilitate and profit off of deportation services, border security and mass surveillance.”

SEIU members from Local 521 and United Healthcare Workers, Seema Patel and Tammy Danhota, spoke about Trump’s attacks against workers and oppressed people’s movements.

“I’m here to say that’s not going to happen under our watch; we want ICE to stop all of their deportations,” Danhota stated. “We demand for legalization for all and an end to the criminalization of immigrants,”

Philip Nguyen, a San Jose Against War (SJAW) member, condemned ICE’s use of Israeli surveillance technology against undocumented immigrants. He noted the collaboration between ICE and Israel and similar tactics used in Gaza and called on the city of San Jose to divest from companies involved with Israel.

The march continued after the program, heading towards the stadium while protesters chanted “Stand up, fight back!”

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #SJCSO #SuperBowl #Featured