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)

Facilities
Format
Genre
Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

349 items
Bill Hosokawa Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-122-26-4)
vh Bill Hosokawa Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-122-26-4)
Discussion of mass removal and incarceration: decision of whether or not to protest
James Omura Interview I Segment 7 (ddr-densho-122-4-7)
vh James Omura Interview I Segment 7 (ddr-densho-122-4-7)
Writing about Heart Mountain's Fair Play Committee

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues …

Kats Kunitsugu - Paul Tsuneishi Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-122-17-2)
vh Kats Kunitsugu - Paul Tsuneishi Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-122-17-2)
The atmosphere in which individuals decided to resist the draft

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily …

Frank Emi Interview II Segment 8 (ddr-densho-122-20-8)
vh Frank Emi Interview II Segment 8 (ddr-densho-122-20-8)
Ineligible for the draft, yet choosing to resist on principle

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily …

Frank Emi Interview II Segment 14 (ddr-densho-122-20-14)
vh Frank Emi Interview II Segment 14 (ddr-densho-122-20-14)
The trustworthiness of the members of the Fair Play Committee

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily …

Frank Emi Interview II Segment 18 (ddr-densho-122-20-18)
vh Frank Emi Interview II Segment 18 (ddr-densho-122-20-18)
Serving time in the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues …

Frank Emi Interview II Segment 13 (ddr-densho-122-20-13)
vh Frank Emi Interview II Segment 13 (ddr-densho-122-20-13)
Thoughts on Ben Kuroki's visit to Heart Mountain

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-122-23-26)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-122-23-26)
Talking with resisters postwar about their experiences

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-122-23-19)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-122-23-19)
The relationship between the Pacific Citizen, the Heart Mountain Sentinel and the draft resisters

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-23-3)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-23-3)
Impressions after attending a reunion of resisters

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-122-23-25)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-122-23-25)
The emergence of the resisters' story

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues surrounding …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 29 (ddr-densho-122-23-29)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 29 (ddr-densho-122-23-29)
The distinction between "no-no" boys and draft resisters

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-122-23-23)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-122-23-23)
Belief that Ben Kuroki's visits to concentration camps "didn't have the desired effect" for the U.S. government

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-122-23-4)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-122-23-4)
Discussion of community treatment of draft resisters and the episode's place in historical context

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not …

Art Hansen Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-122-23-27)
vh Art Hansen Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-122-23-27)
The resisters' story: "these people are well on their way to becoming ... recognizable American heroes"

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are …

Michi Weglyn Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-122-22-14)
vh Michi Weglyn Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-122-22-14)
Feelings about Heart Mountain's Fair Play Committee

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues …

Michi Weglyn Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-122-22-18)
vh Michi Weglyn Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-122-22-18)
Reaction of the Japanese American community to the Heart Mountain resisters

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead …

Michi Weglyn Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-122-22-16)
vh Michi Weglyn Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-122-22-16)
The uniqueness of the organized resistance movement at Heart Mountain

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily …

George Hanada Interview Segment 8 (ddr-jamsj-2-5-8)
vh George Hanada Interview Segment 8 (ddr-jamsj-2-5-8)
Thoughts on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" and draft resisters

This interview was conducted by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and is part of a project entitled "Lasting Stories: The Resettlement of San Jose Japantown," a collaborative project between the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and Densho.

Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1016-4-5)
vh Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1016-4-5)
Impact of draft resistance

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1016-4-4)
vh Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1016-4-4)
Making the decision to resist the draft

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

API