Karen Korematsu, the daughter of famed civil rights icon Fred T. Korematsu, made a plea for allyship and solidarity during her keynote address at the June 11 program, “But Where are You Really From? A Look at Asian American History, the Law and Notions of Belonging in the United States.”
In a rousing speech, Korematsu recounted the story of her father, who was relocated and incarcerated during World War II, along with thousands of Japanese Americans. His story echoes still, she said, across many racial, ethnic and religious communities, and fighting injustice will require knowing history and working together. “This is going to take all of us,” she said. “The hate and violence against Asian Americans and against Pacific Islanders is against all of us. It’s not just about them, it’s about all of us…. This is about building solidarity, about building coalitions and allyships…. As my father said, ‘Stand up for what is right. And when you see something wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.’”
