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
Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-122-8-7)
vh Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-122-8-7)
Thoughts on decision to resist the draft by taking a public stand

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, …

Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-8-3)
vh Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-8-3)
Feeling disappointed at Minoru Yasui's attempts to discourage a test case

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 …

Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-122-8-6)
vh Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-122-8-6)
Feeling "betrayed" by the Japanese American Citizens League

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 …

Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 1 (ddr-densho-122-8-1)
vh Yosh Kuromiya Interview Segment 1 (ddr-densho-122-8-1)
Discussion of strategies upon going on trial for draft resistance

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 …

Roger Daniels Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-122-25-6)
vh Roger Daniels Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-122-25-6)
The role of the American Civil Liberties Union in the resistance movement

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, …

Roger Daniels Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-25-3)
vh Roger Daniels Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-25-3)
The ramifications of the resistance movement on later American history

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.

Frank Emi Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1002-9-14)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1002-9-14)
An act of defiance: threatening to walk out of camp

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, …

Frank Emi Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1002-9-13)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1002-9-13)
Reasons for joining the resisters' cause: "I felt so strongly about the injustice of it that I just had to do something"

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As …

Frank Emi Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1002-9-18)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1002-9-18)
Talking about resister status postwar; discussion of principles involved in becoming a resister

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically …

Frank Emi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1002-9-16)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1002-9-16)
Not feeling too affected by resister status later in life

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, …

Frank Emi Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1002-9-20)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1002-9-20)
Reflections: pardoned in 1947; thoughts on the American justice system

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, …

Frank Emi Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1002-9-12)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1002-9-12)
The resisters' story: experiences in jail, the trial of sixty-three

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, …

Frank Emi Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1002-9-15)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1002-9-15)
Description of trial: found guilty and sent to jail

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead …

Frank Emi Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1002-9-19)
vh Frank Emi Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1002-9-19)
Meeting some "interesting characters" while spending time in jail

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead …

Jimmie Omura Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1002-11-21)
vh Jimmie Omura Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1002-11-21)
Investigated by the FBI as a result of pro-resister editorials in the Rocky Shimpo

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are …

Jimmie Omura Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1002-11-23)
vh Jimmie Omura Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1002-11-23)
Acquitted of government's charges; returning to Denver, Colorado

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily …

Jimmie Omura Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1002-11-22)
vh Jimmie Omura Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1002-11-22)
Arrested and put in jail along with the Heart Mountain resisters

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life …

Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1002-4-3)
vh Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1002-4-3)
Deciding to resist the draft registration; memories of the "segregation" period in Tule Lake concentration camp

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this …

Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1002-6-8)
vh Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1002-6-8)
Brother's military service; being pardoned in 1947

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing …

Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1002-6-7)
vh Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1002-6-7)
Description of trial: convicted and sentenced to three years in prison

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life …

Paul Nagano Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-65-8)
vh Paul Nagano Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-65-8)
Christian faith and social justice: dealing with so-called "loyalty questionnaire," and military service
Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-165-17)
vh Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-165-17)
Witnessing tension and conflict between "yes-yeses" and "no-nos" in Tule Lake
Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-165-16)
vh Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-165-16)
Reaction to the so-called "loyalty questionnaire": making the decision to resist the draft
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