On January 30, 2026, four U.S. states — California, Florida, Hawaii, and Virginia — officially observe Fred Korematsu Day (or Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution), a state holiday commemorating the life and legacy of Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu (1919–2005), a Japanese-American civil rights hero who defied one of the most shameful episodes in American history.
Born on January 30, 1919, in Oakland, California, Fred Korematsu became a symbol of resistance when, in 1942, he refused to obey President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced removal and incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans (two-thirds of them U.S. citizens) into internment camps during World War II. Arrested and convicted for remaining in his home, Korematsu took his case all the way to the Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States (1944). The Court upheld the internment in a 6–3 decision — a ruling widely regarded today as one of the Court’s greatest mistakes, alongside Dred Scott and Plessy v. Ferguson.
In the 1980s, new evidence proved the government had suppressed reports showing Japanese Americans posed no military threat. Korematsu’s conviction was overturned in 1983, and in 1988 President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, formally apologizing and providing reparations. Korematsu spent the rest of his life speaking out against racial profiling and for civil liberties, famously saying after 9/11: “No one should ever be treated the way my family and I were treated.”
State Recognition:
- California was the first state to establish the day in 2010 (signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger).
- Hawaii followed in 2013.
- Virginia in 2015.
- Florida in 2020 — making it the only non-Pacific state to honor Korematsu.
Significance in 2026:
- The day falls on what would have been Fred Korematsu’s 107th birthday.
- It serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of civil rights during times of fear, the danger of unchecked executive power, and the importance of standing up — even when you’re standing alone.
- In an era of rising hate crimes against Asian Americans and ongoing debates over immigration and national security, Korematsu’s story remains painfully relevant.
Celebrations and Observances:
- School programs: Lessons on the Japanese American internment, civil disobedience, and the Constitution; many classrooms watch the documentary Of Civil Wrongs and Rights or read Korematsu’s own words.
- Official ceremonies: Wreath-layings, proclamations by governors, and events at Japanese American museums or community centers.
- Public education: Exhibits, film screenings, panel discussions, and social media campaigns (#FredKorematsuDay, #StandUpForWhatIsRight) sharing his famous quote: “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”
- Awards and recognition: The Fred T. Korematsu Institute continues its work promoting civil rights education nationwide.
Fred Korematsu Day is not a full public holiday with closures, but it is an official day of special observance in the four states, often marked in schools and government offices.
A line Korematsu lived by: “Stand up for what is right — and keep standing, even if you have to stand alone.”
On January 30, these four states — and many Americans beyond — remember a quiet man from Oakland who said “No” when his country asked him to betray his dignity. His courage still teaches us how to be better citizens. 🇺🇸