JACL Fellow Matthew Marumoto talks with members of the Salt Lake City chapter, including Katherine Marumoto, SLC membership chair (center) and Kelly Asao, IDC governor and SLC chapter president (right). (Photo: Courtesy of Sheldon Marumoto)
The Alien Enemies Act is one of several key policy issues discussed.
By JACL National
Daniel K. Inouye Fellow Matthew Marumoto conducted an Alien Enemies Act presentation and advocacy training at Westminster University in Salt Lake City on Oct. 12.
The training, which was attended by 20 participants, half of whom were JACL members, covered the origins of the AEA, all five invocations of the act, additional discussion of the AEA’s usage during World War II, how the AEA is being used today to target immigrant communities and the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, a bill aimed at completely repealing the AEA.
Following the presentation on both historical and current events, the session transitioned into an advocacy training that focused on meetings with elected officials and included mock Capitol Hill meetings.
“Trainings like the one we just conducted in Salt Lake City go hand in hand with the work JACL is doing on Capitol Hill,” said Marumoto. “We want to educate individuals on these important policy issues and empower them to voice their concerns to their elected officials at all levels of government.
“Due to the AEA being weaponized against our own community during WWII, Japanese Americans possess a powerful and unique voice in calling for the complete repeal of the AEA and advocating for the civil rights and liberties of immigrants living in the U.S.,” Marumoto continued. “I hope that this presentation and training can serve as a model for future programs to engage our membership on current policy issues and attract new members to join in the fight.”
JACL National wishes to thank the JACL Salt Lake City chapter and its board for making this program possible.
