Hey I was wondering if someone could educate me on the individuals or groups who opposed the Japanese Internment Camps? Were there any prominent politicians of the time, civil rights leaders, journalists or any groups that were in opposition to the policy?
Thank you
At the time the Executive Order was signed, it was a very popular policy. Even the Japanese American Citizen's League (JACL), did not fight the decision and advised all citizens of Japanese descent to co-operate to go peacefully. They also distanced themselves and criticised those who publicly dissented. That isn't to say however, that there was no opposition from groups or people.
Fred Korematsu was a civil right's activist who publicly opposed the policy and took it to the Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States (where the Supreme Court upheld the exclusion and internment of Japanese-Americans. He also attempted to evade internment and underwent eyelid surgery in order to pass as caucasian. Fred Korematsu day is commemorated on his birthday (30th of January) each year.
The military governor of Hawai'i, Delos Carleton Emmons publicly opposed the policy and has been credited with preventing the mass exclusion and internment of the thousands of Japanese-Americans living in Hawai'i - only c. 1200-1800 were interned as opposed to the some 150,000 living there. He recognised the importance of their contribution to the Hawaiian economy and argued that their labour was "essential" to re-building the defences following Pearl Harbour. He fought against the exclusion act and had the support of the majority of white business owners on the island, who also opposed the internment.
The governor of Oregon, Charles Sprague initially opposed the legislation and refused to enforce it in his state. He also encouraged Oregon citizens to not harass Japanese-American citizens. However, he later turned on this decision only a mere few days prior to Executive Order 9066 being signed into legislation.
Several church organisations, particularly Baptists who had been missionaries to Japan, opposed the legislation as well. Reverend Emery Andrews, a Baptist minister predicted that the internment would be recorded by future historians as "one of the blackest blots on American history".
The religious groups were often the most tireless supporters in the efforts against Japanese internment. A pamphlet published by the American Baptist Home Missionary Society pleaded for 'fair play' for Japanese Americans. Outside of opposing the legislation, they also helped to store internee's valuables, sent missionaries into camps and and helped young internees secure funding for college and permission to attend.
The Washington Post carried a story two days after FDR signed Executive Order 9066 with the line "Nisei Reaffirm Their Loyalty" (Nisei were second generation Japanese-Americans). In the article, they noted to the public their opinion that Japanese-Americans were just as loyal in their efforts in the war, indicating that internment was not the answer. Other columnists in newspapers such as The Orange County Register, also raised issues with the internment.
The NAACP and NCJW also spoke out against the internment, who undoubtedly felt a shared experience in this.
More can be said, however for now these may be of interest:
What happened to those that resisted the Japanese internment camps in America during WW2 written by u/kizhe talks about a few figures who resisted.
What were the reactions to Japanese internment when it was happening? written by u/sakuraxatsume discusses some opposition near the end of their answer.