Members of the Manzanar Committee are only now returning to a level of consciousness that closely resembles our respective normal conditions after an exhausting, yet exhilarating and inspiring weekend in which over 2,000 people attended the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on Saturday, April 29, and about 550 attended the 2017 Manzanar At Dusk program that same evening (shattering the previous Manzanar At Dusk record of 360 participants).
The entire day was a huge success, and not only for the Manzanar Committee, but for all of our communities. We came together as one to speak out against the injustices, the racism, and the attacks on people of color and immigrants. We came together to speak out for the Constitutional rights of all people, seeking to remind the world of what can happen when “…race prejudice, wartime hysteria and a failure of political leadership,” not to mention economic greed, are allowed to overwhelm our senses and judgment.
Indeed, what happened to 11,070 people at the Manzanar concentration camp, and to more than 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II, must never happen again, to anyone.
We must never forget that our Constitutional rights mean nothing unless we are vigilant in our efforts to protect them and ensure that they apply equally, to everyone.
Photographs from our professional photographers, Geri Ferguson and Mark Kirchner, are forthcoming. For now, here are some amateur photos that we hope you’ll enjoy.
LEAD PHOTO: Looking west, towards the Eastern Sierras, during the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Photo: Gann Matsuda/Manzanar Committee
48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage
76 photos by Gann Matsuda; ©2017 Manzanar Committee. All rights reserved. Click on any photo to view a larger image, and to scroll/click through the gallery.
Early morning solitude at the Manzanar cemetery monument prior to the start of the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Early morning solitude at the Manzanar cemetery monument prior to the start of the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Early morning solitude at the Manzanar cemetery monument prior to the start of the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko opened the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Ken Koshio (right) performs
Ken Koshio (right) performs
Ken Koshio (right) performs
Ken Koshio (right) performs
Former Manzanar incarceree and Manzanar Committee member Pat Sakamoto co-emceed the program.
Procession of banners representing the ten American concentration camps, along with the Justice Department internment camp at Crystal City, Texas, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion/Military Intelligence Service.
Procession of banners representing the ten American concentration camps, along with the Justice Department internment camp at Crystal City, Texas, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion/Military Intelligence Service.
Procession of banners representing the ten American concentration camps, along with the Justice Department internment camp at Crystal City, Texas, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion/Military Intelligence Service.
Former Manzanar incarceree and Manzanar Committee member Pat Sakamoto co-emceed the program.
Former Manzanar incarceree and Manzanar Committee member Pat Sakamoto co-emceed the program.
traci ishigo of #VigilantLOVE co-emceed the program.
traci ishigo of #VigilantLOVE co-emceed the program.
Manzanar National Historic Site Superintendent Bernadette Johnson
Consul General of Japan (San Francisco) Jun Yamada
Califotnia State Assembly member Al Murutsuchi
Califotnia State Assembly member Al Murutsuchi and Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey
Juli Yoshinaga of the Cal State Long Beach Nikkei Student Union spoke on behalf of students
Juli Yoshinaga of the Cal State Long Beach Nikkei Student Union spoke on behalf of students
Juli Yoshinaga of the Cal State Long Beach Nikkei Student Union spoke on behalf of students
The “Songbird of Manzanar,” Mary Nomura
The “Songbird of Manzanar,” Mary Nomura
Asmaa Ahmed, Policy & Advocacy Coordinator, Council of American-Islamic Relations – Los Angeles
Former Manzanar incarceree and Manzanar Committee member Pat Sakamoto co-emceed the program.
Former Manzanar incarceree and Manzanar Committee member Pat Sakamoto co-emceed the program.
Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey
Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey
Manzanar Committee Co-Chairs Bruce Embrey (left) and Jenny Chomori (right, along with co-emcee traci ishigo (second from right), presented the 2017 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award to Alan Nishio
2017 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Alan Nishio
2017 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Alan Nishio
From left: Kathy Masaoka (obscured), Sahar Pirzada, traci kato-kiriyama and traci ishigo performed a powerful, inspiring poem
Vigilant Love’s Sahar Pirzada, traci kato-kiriyama, Kathy Masaoka) and traci ishigo performed a powerful, inspiring poem
Manzanar Committee and Manzanar Pilgrimage co-founder Warren Furutani was the keynote speaker
Manzanar Committee and Manzanar Pilgrimage co-founder Warren Furutani was the keynote speaker
Former Manzanar incarceree Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, a hero in the Japanese American community
2017 Manzanar Committee Student Award winners
Onto dancing closes the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage each year
Onto dancing closes the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage each year
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Onto dancing closes the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage each year
Onto dancing closes the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage each year
2017 Manzanar At Dusk
77 photos by Gann Matsuda; ©2017 Manzanar Committee. All rights reserved. Click on any photo to view a larger image, and to scroll/click through the gallery.
Tyler Suzuki (left) and Emiko Kranz (right) from the 2017 Manzanar At Dusk organizing committee during the opening of the program
Riana Seto (left) and Juli Yoshinaga (right) from the 2017 Manzanar At Dusk organizing committee during the opening of the program
Riana Seto from the 2017 Manzanar At Dusk organizing committee during the opening of the program
Lauren Matsumoto from the 2017 Manzanar At Dusk organizing committee during the opening of the program
Justin Shimane from the 2017 Manzanar At Dusk organizing committee during the opening of the program
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
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One of the small group discussions
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One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
One of the small group discussions
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
Open mic session at the conclusion of the program
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I was at the Pilgrimage and was so moved by the whole event. The Poem/ dramatic presentation from the four ladies was remarkable is so many ways. I would very much like to get a copy of that presentation if possible. I had hoped the video on line would give me that, but the wind was too disruptive. I also have photo’s that I would be happy to share with you if you would like them. Hope to hear from you about a way I can get the poem to share with others.
Terry Connelly
Look up “#vigilantLOVE” on the web. You might find the text of that poem. It’ll be awhile before our video is available.