Join Survivors, dignitaries, and community leaders as we commemorate the forced removal of the first Japanese Americans to be evacuated from the West Coast during World War II. Shortly after the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, Public Proclamation No. 4 launched the forced evacuation and detention of Japanese American residents on a 48-hour notice. The Japanese Americans of Bainbridge Island were the first group to be evacuated to a partially constructed camp at Manzanar in the Southern California desert.
Speakers at the event include Governor Jay Inslee (a resident of Bainbridge), survivor Frances Kitamoto Ikegami, 4 student leaders from Woodward Middle School, as well as a roster of community leaders. The Commemoration will conclude with a reading of the 276 names on the Exclusion Memorial Wall. View the full Program here.
The event will be livestreamed via the BIJAEMA Facebook Page. BIJAC requests that people consider attending remotely.
Parking at the Exclusion Memorial is limited. Drivers may drop off passengers at the bus drop off area, then proceed to the Park and Ride at Bethany Lutheran Church, 7968 Finch Road NE, where they can catch a complimentary round-trip shuttle ride to the Memorial. Click herefor a full schedule. Departing shuttle service runs from 10 – 11 a.m. with return rides from 12:30-1:30 p.m. If you are a survivor, are transporting a survivor and/or require disabled parking, please contact Carol Reitz (425-765-9284, carolreitz@msn.com) to make special arrangements.