PRESS RELEASE

April 7, 2017

NAAAP Detroit Fred Korematsu and Muslim Registry Panel Discussion on April 20

DETROIT, MI – National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Detroit Chapter is proud to collaborate with the Arab American Civil Rights League and Oakland Community College to highlight and discuss the impact of a Muslim Registry, brought up by Carl Higbie, Chair and Spokesperson for the Great America PAC for Trump in November 2016 during the campaign. Mr. Higbie stated the precedence has been set by the Registry of Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Since inauguration, the Executive Order has been given affecting Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia — for 90 days and stops all refugees from entering the country for 120 days. Syrian refugees are banned indefinitely. During the time of the ban, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State will review and revise the refugee admission process.

View a documentary of Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American, who refused to go to an internment camp during WWII. He challenged the constitutionality of the government’s imprisonment of Japanese Americans, but lost. In 1983, key documents were discovered the 1944 Supreme Court decision that Japanese Americans had not committed acts of treason to justify mass incarceration; Korematsu’s case was re-opened and his conviction was overturned in 1983, creating a pivotal moment in civil rights history.

A panel discussion will follow the video on how the Korematsu’s case and Muslim registry could impact the civil rights of American citizens. Panel participants include; Rula Aoun, Director of the Arab American Civil Rights League; Geck Budd, Immigration Attorney and Dr. Krishna Stilianos, Psychologist and Moderator: Henry Tanaka.

NAAAP Detroit Chapter encourages members and friends to join the Fred Korematsu and Muslim Registry on April 20th. Please visit www.naaapdetroit.org for more information, visit www.naaapdetroit.org  for more information.