Draft resistance

In 1944 the government reinstated the draft for Japanese Americans after suspending it in 1942 and began drafting men directly from the camps. This action angered many. At Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming, resistance took the form of an organized movement calling itself the Fair Play Committee. Members demanded that their rights as citizens be restored before enlisting in the military. Eventually, sixty-three men from Heart Mountain refused induction and were sentenced to prison terms for draft evasion. In the other camps, disparate individuals made the decision to resist the draft. After being unfairly incarcerated for almost two years, they saw the draft as the final injustice. Ultimately, 267 men from all the concentration camps were convicted of evading the draft and most served time in prison. President Truman pardoned all of the resisters in 1947.

World War II (231)
Resistance and dissidence (84)
Draft resistance (349)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Draft resistance, Frank Emi, Gordon Hirabayashi, No-No Boy (book)

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349 items
The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 3 (January 8, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-77)
doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 3 (January 8, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-77)
"21 From Seattle Granted Presidential Pardons on Draft-Dodge Charge" (pg. 1), "Judd's Measure Aids Japanese" (pg. 1),
Excerpts from an FBI report on the Fair Play Committee (ddr-densho-67-74)
doc Excerpts from an FBI report on the Fair Play Committee (ddr-densho-67-74)
Excerpts from an FBI report on the Fair Play Committee (FPC) at Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Includes the author's observations and impressions of FPC daily activities, meetings, etc. Also included are petitions written to Congress by the FPC and translations of FPC publications. Report ends with interviews with FPC leaders Paul Nakadate and Frank Emi.
Letter from James Albert
doc Letter from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Kida family (ddr-one-3-69)
Letter from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Kay, George and Kida (Kenjiro Kida) dated February 6, 1944. Al writes that Mrs. Sidney Miller and Sadie McCoy wanted to get Sarah "Sade" Pyatt out of the hospital and send her to live with the Kida family in Eastern Oregon. Al told them that George was going into …
Letter from James Albert
doc Letter from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Miyuki "Kay" Kida (ddr-one-3-71)
Letter and envelope from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Miyuki "Kay" Kida in Nyssa, Oregon, dated February 9, 1944. Reassures Kay that George will not be drafted if he is "a little lame" when he visits the doctor. Advises Kay to go ahead with George's plan for early potatoes and perhaps late potatoes too. Sympathizes with …
Letter from James Albert
doc Letter from James Albert "Al" Johnson to George Kida (ddr-one-3-39)
Letter and envelope addressed to George Kida in Nyssa, Oregon, from James Albert "Al" Johnson. Letter dated February 23, 1943, envelope postmarked February 25, 1943. James Albert "Al" Johnson brought a letter from George to a banker (Mr. Barton) in regards to the possibility of a loan for George. He believes that the loan is a …
Letter from James Albert
doc Letter from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Kida family (ddr-one-3-70)
Addition to the previous letter dated February 8, 1944. From James Albert "Al" Johnson to the Kida family. More advice to George about the draft examination. To see full letter please see ddr-one-3-69.
Letter from James Albert
doc Letter from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Kay and George Kida (ddr-one-3-73)
Letter and envelope from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Kay and George Kida in Nyssa, Oregon dated February 26, 1944. In the letter he gives advice about avoiding the draft by failing the physical examination. Says that if George does not pass the physical examination he will be put back in 4A classification. Mentions that he …
Letter from James Albert
doc Letter from James Albert "Al" Johnson to Miyuki "Kay" Kida (ddr-one-3-40)
Letter to Miyuki "Kay" Kida from James Albert "Al" Johnson dated February 25, 1943. Mentions George's deal again (discussed in letter to George). He also says that he does not think George will be drafted once he starts to farm. Tells Kay what George needs to do to avoid the draft. Letter sent with ddr-one-3-39 in …
Pacifc Citizen, Vol. 62, No. 22 (June 3, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-22)
doc Pacifc Citizen, Vol. 62, No. 22 (June 3, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-22)
Select article titles: "Nisei Pentagon Official Pays Tribute to 442" (p. 1); "Nisei conscientious objector of WW2 who served in prison re-enfranchised" (p. 1); "Sanjo area adds Oriental voice on anti-poverty board" (p. 1); "Death threat against autopsy surgeon in Deadwyler case made if officer who killed Negro motorist is released" (p. 3).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 103, No. 25 (December 19-26, 1986) (ddr-pc-58-50)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 103, No. 25 (December 19-26, 1986) (ddr-pc-58-50)
Special holiday issue organized into sections A 1-32, B 1-64, and A 33-64. Selected article titles: "As Others See Us: An Overview" (pp. A-4, A-13, A-20), "The Dilemma of the 'Model Minority' Image" (p. A-14), "Minoru Yasui, 1916-1986: In Remembrance" (pp. B-1-B-2), "The Nisei of the 1800 Engineer General Service Battalion: An Untold Story" (pp. B-39-B-40, …
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 111, No. 1 (July 6-13, 1990) (ddr-pc-62-26)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 111, No. 1 (July 6-13, 1990) (ddr-pc-62-26)
Select article titles: "Draft Resisters React Favorably to Resolution"(p.1);"Redress Eligibility Process for WWII Nisei Servicemen Explained"(p.1);"Recent Immigrants Strain Chinatown's Resources"(p.2); "L.A. Unified School District Dedicates Its First Japanese American Named School"(p.3); "Resolution 13: To Heal the Community's Wartime Wounds"(p.6).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 111, No. 5 (August 31, 1990) (ddr-pc-62-30)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 111, No. 5 (August 31, 1990) (ddr-pc-62-30)
Select article titles: "No. Cal-Western Nevada-Pacific JACL Director Retires After 15 Years"(p.1); "JACL HQ Rebuts Uyeda's 'Accusations'"(p.1); "What's Wrong With Being a Bridge to Japan? Nisei Have a Vested Interest in Its Well-Being"(p.5); "Two Years Ago on Aug. 10, President Reagan Sets Government Motion for Apology and Redress"(p.6).
The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 27 (August 31, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-33)
doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 27 (August 31, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-33)
Selected article titles: "Further Action on Tule Draft Case Dropped" (p. 1), "Stockade: Isolation Area Empty; Occupants Return Home" (p. 1), and "Sending V-Mail in Japanese Permissible" (p. 4).
The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 21 (July 20, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-26)
doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 21 (July 20, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-26)
Selected article titles: "27 Taken to Eureka on Draft Violation Charges" (p. 1), "Two Charged with Sedition and Conspiracy" (p. 2), and "Black Reports Temporary Ban on Block Carnivals" (p. 4).
The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 22 (July 27, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-28)
doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 22 (July 27, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-28)
Selected article titles: "Status Unchanged as Hunger Strike Enters Ninth Day" (p. 1), "27 Freed; Due Process of Law Not Accorded--Judge" (pp. 1-2), "Obon Cancelled; Rites Held for Deceased Heroes" (p. 3), and "Bi-Ovum Babies Boost Births" (p. 4).
Letter from Alvin Uchiyama to Kathleen Koga Uchiyama (ddr-densho-406-19)
doc Letter from Alvin Uchiyama to Kathleen Koga Uchiyama (ddr-densho-406-19)
Getting his allotment and pay, mention of hearing about the draft resisters.
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