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
Ken Yoshida Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-428-9)
vh Ken Yoshida Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-428-9)
Answering "yes-yes" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire but deciding to resist the draft

This interview is incomplete. It ends after the first hour of taping, when Mr. Yoshida is describing serving time at the road camp for resisting the draft. This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, …

Ken Yoshida Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-428-11)
vh Ken Yoshida Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-428-11)
Daily life in the country jail

This interview is incomplete. It ends after the first hour of taping, when Mr. Yoshida is describing serving time at the road camp for resisting 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 …

Grant Ujifusa Interview II Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-133-16)
vh Grant Ujifusa Interview II Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-133-16)
Discussion of the controversy between World War II veterans and resisters
Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-290-22)
vh Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-290-22)
Answering the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" and deciding 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 …

Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-290-25)
vh Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-290-25)
Memories of draft resistance trial

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.

Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-290-26)
vh Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-290-26)
Imprisoned at the McNeil Island penitentiary for 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 …

Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-290-23)
vh Takashi Hoshizaki Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-290-23)
Attending meetings of the Fair Play Committee

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.

Homer Yasui Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-491-21)
vh Homer Yasui Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-491-21)
Discussion about Min Yasui and Joe Grant Masaoka's trip to Heart Mountain
George Koshi Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1008-1-30)
vh George Koshi Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1008-1-30)
Thoughts on the draft resisters

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

Kenji Goto Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-2-8)
vh Kenji Goto Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-2-8)
Feelings about draft resisters

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.

Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview II Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1005-3-16)
vh Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview II Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1005-3-16)
Thoughts on the draft resistance issue and Ben Kuroki's visit to Heart Mountain
Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1016-4-6)
vh Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1016-4-6)
Rebuilding life after serving time in jail for resisting 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 …

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.

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 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 …

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 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 …

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