Anthony Cannella: Monument helps us recall a dark day in our shared history

On Feb. 19, 1942, at the beginning of World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the U.S. government to incarcerate approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans.

While today this might seem incomprehensible, what’s even more appalling is that this occurred on our own American soil – and in our own backyard. Many of those removed to euphemistically called “relocation camps” came from Northern California, including Merced County.

This year’s Day of Remembrance marks 73 years since the signing of a law that within three months resulted in more than 4,600 individuals from our community – including many young children – being forced out of their homes, stripped of their freedoms and belongings and ordered to report to the Merced County Fairgrounds.

Bank accounts were frozen, businesses were closed and many lost everything – solely because of their ancestry. When they returned years later, many could not recover any of what had been lost.

As a lifelong Central Valley resident, I have wonderful memories of attending events at the Merced County Fairgrounds. It was only later that I learned about the violations of justice that occurred there and at similar locations throughout the Valley. It is ironic that on the very grounds where we celebrate our county’s diverse population and agricultural heritage every year, thousands of our neighbors were persecuted.

We must try to understand the fear and confusion I’m sure many felt as they were forced to take only what they could carry to the fairground and there await orders for placement in internment camps across the United States.

It’s been my honor to support the Livingston-Merced Japanese American Citizens League, as well as donate the California state flag that waves on the flagpole donated by the JACL. The flag flies overhead the beautiful monument of a young Japanese American child sitting on suitcases filled with hastily gathered belongings – and, no doubt, anger, pain and confusion – holding what probably was her most prized possession, a doll. I only hope such small things provided children like her with some comfort.

Her expression seems to ask, “Why?”

While we might never be able to truly answer that question, this statue recalls a very dark time in American history. Our nation had been attacked, and in response we confined more than 100,000 innocent people, forcing them to endure hardship and deprivation. The people of the United States allowed this injustice and racism because they were afraid.

A monument cannot begin to erase the injustices that occurred, but it provides us a moment to pause and reflect on a time when our nation chose fear over resolve. Let the statue of this little girl serve as a reminder that such mistakes should never be repeated. Let her remind us not to embrace fear, but instead our ideals.

I commend all who ensured this monument was erected, as well as their commitment to remembering and honoring those who lost so much. Their dedication allows the Japanese American story to serve as an inspiration today and for years to come.

As always, my door is always open. If you have thoughts or questions you wish to share, call my Merced office at (209) 726-5495 or the Ceres office at (209) 581-9827.

This story was originally published February 10, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Anthony Cannella: Monument helps us recall a dark day in our shared history."