In 2016 Oregon’s legislature designated March 28 Minoru Yasui Day to honor the state’s only Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee’s tireless fight for equality, justice, democracy, and civil rights. This year the Min Yasui Day program is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, from 1 to 3 pm. In person at the White Stag Building (70 NW Couch Street, Portland) and streaming live on YouTube.
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.
➢ 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 Courthouse 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.
Hosted by: Minoru Yasui Legacy Project, www.minoruyasuilegacy.org in collaboration with the Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO).
Register here. This is a free event but requires registration.