The Asian American Studies Institute and the Asian American Cultural Center will present a Day of Remembrance and Dialog on February 19, at the Asian American Cultural Center, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

It was on February 19, 1942, that President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, leading to the mass removal and detention of 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry in prison camps between 1942-1946. In 1988, the U.S. government enacted legislation calling for an apology and partial compensation to survivors of the camps. By that time about half of the 120,000 had already passed away.

Guests at the Day of Remembrance include a former internee, a descendant of former internees, and others who were involved in the internment camps of World War II. The event will be an opportunity to engage in informal discussions about the lessons of internment and current concerns about constitutional rights, tolerance, prejudice, race and community relations.

Additionally, as part of the National Collegiate Day of Remembrance, students and faculty may participate in a nationwide commemoration of the civil liberties violations and wrongful detention of Japanese Americans during World War II, through a multimedia and panel presentation, including video, poetry, dance, music and discussion, to be telecast live from San Francisco State University, at the Student Union, Room 378, from 2:30-4:30 p.m.