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Show Racism and Alien Land Laws 69 Pacific Coast by the Army and other government agencies, a wave of anti-Japanese hysteria swept over the area and the enforcement of the Alien Land Laws against persons of Japanese ancestry was inspired by the anti-evacuee forces of California, Oregon, and Washington. Escheat proceedings are now being undertaken and have been fulfilled in a number of instances. The escheat proceedings do not only affect aliens but also American citizens of Japanese ancestry, many of them returned service men who served their country with honor and distinction in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe and with the U. S. Intelligence forces in the Pacific. These young Americans stand to lose their basic economic resources in these respective states as well as their status in the society of which they are an integral part. The criticisms that they are undesirables and are not able to assimilate into the American society have by their records in the armed forces, in war factories, and in the harvest fields been proved to be groundless. The type of' legislation conceived and brought forth by the racism of specific states in the form of Alien Land Laws cannot comply with the statement of Mr. Justice Murphy when he said: "Distinctions based on color and ancestry are utter! y inconsistent with our traditions and ideals." Nor can such laws comply with our avowals to the United Nations Charter when it states that our concern the world over must be for "human rights and funda mental freedoms for all, without distinctions as to race, sex. lan guage or religion. "21 REFERENCES 1 C. McWilliams, Brothers Under The Skin; Mears, Resident Orientals On The American Pacific Coast; Muntz. Race Contact; Johnson, Patterns Of Negro Segregation; Sterner, The Negro's Share; Myrdal, The American Dilemma; Thompson, Race Relations And The Race Problem; Konvitz, The Alien And The Asiatic In American Law. 2 It should be noted that persons of Japanese ancestry, if not born in the United State, were and are ineligible for citizenship. 3 This definitely hinders the American citizen of Japanese ancestry in his/her pursuit of liberty and happiness upon the same basis as other citizens. For a relative who is an alien cannot hold property in guardianship for an American citizen until he/she becomes of age. This is definite dis crimination against an American citizen. ± This is the basis for 60 escheat cases in "the courts along the Pacific Coast at present, including the Oyama case which is being submitted to the U. S. Supreme Court. 5 This applied to American citizens of Japanese ancestry as well as to their par ents or Issei. GEImer R. Smith, Community Analyst Report On Yakima County, Washing ton, War Relocation Authority, U. S Department of the Interior, Febru ary 28, March 1, 2, 1945, page 22. 7 Carey McWilliams, Prejudice, Chapter 2. 8 B. Schrieke, Alien Americans, p. 27. 9 C. McWilliams, op.cit., 6. 22. example, " |
