korematsu.jpgnewcampus@sanleandro.k12.ca.us.
I believe that we should name the 9th grade campus after Fred Korematsu, one of the very few true heroes that San Leandro has. Korematsu was a patriotic Japanese-American who volunteered to fight with the Navy during WWII but was turned down for health reasons. In 1942 the US government decided to intern all people of Japanese decent in its own concentration camps – lest they provide help to the Japanese. Interestingly they didn’t have the same concerns about citizens of Italian or German extraction.
Fred Korematsu refused to give up on his constitutional rights and heed the internment order – instead he went into hiding but was eventually arrested in San Leandro. He was tried and convicted. He appealed his conviction but the Supreme Court, in 1944, in one of its most shameful decisions since Plessy v. Ferguson, ruled that military necessity justified the detention of Japanese Americans. Korematsu did not give up, however, and in the 80’s he was finally vindicated in court. Through his life, he continued fighting for civil rights and against discrimination. You can read more about him in his wikipedia article.
Personally, I believe that there is no higher courage than to stand for your rights and beliefs in the face of oppression. It’s so much easier to give in to fear and rationalize your cowardice – something that I’ve done plenty of times myself. Korematsu, however, did what was right and I’m proud that he lived in our city. I cannot imagine a better name for a new school here. Let’s teach the new generations that true courage and true patriotism are best shown by dissent.
If you share these feelings, please e-mail the San Leandro School Board.