Frank S. Emi
Encyclopedia
Frank S. Emi was a leading figure of the Fair Play Committee, an ad hoc
group who protested the drafting of Japanese Americans during World War II
until they were given full citizenship rights.
, Emi was forced to abandon his successful produce market at 11th and Alvarado
Streets in Los Angeles. He, along with thousands of other law-abiding Japanese Americans were ordered to reside in internment camps
throughout the United States. He was assigned to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Ralston, Wyoming
.
Emi reluctantly accepted his assignment, until late in 1943, when the federal government began submitting questionnaires to internees to determine their willingness to fight for the United States. When the United States decided to reinstate the draft for Japanese American men, Emi joined six other internees to form the Fair Play Committee. The Committee encouraged internees to refuse military service until their full citizenship rights were restored. This did not sit well with the federal government and resulted in the imprisonment of 300 men from ten camps for draft evasion.
The Japanese American Citizens League
, the community's leading civil rights organization, was also critical of their actions. They were lobbying the federal government to allow Japanese American men to join the United States war effort. The League called for the protesters to be charged with sedition
.
The seven leaders of the Fair Play Committee were convicted of conspiracy to violate the Selective Service Act
. Emi served 18 months at the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas
, despite being exempt from military service. He qualified for a deferment because he was married with children, In December 1945, a federal appeals court overturned the convictions of the leaders.
It would not be until 2000, when the Japanese American Citizens League would reverse their stance and offer the protesters a formal apology.
Frank Emi was the head instructor of the Hollywood Judo Dojo and was credited for producing several national Judo athletes. Frank Emi was promoted to 8th degree Black Belt on 2008.
Emi died on December 1, 2010.
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
group who protested the drafting of Japanese Americans during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
until they were given full citizenship rights.
Biography
In the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Emi was forced to abandon his successful produce market at 11th and Alvarado
Alvarado Street
Alvarado Street is a north-south thoroughfare in the Greater Los Angeles Area.-Geography:North of Glendale Boulevard, it starts off as a residential street. It becomes a major thoroughfare south of Glendale Boulevard. Directly south of Pico Boulevard and north of Venice Boulevard, Alvarado Street...
Streets in Los Angeles. He, along with thousands of other law-abiding Japanese Americans were ordered to reside in internment camps
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
throughout the United States. He was assigned to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Ralston, Wyoming
Ralston, Wyoming
Ralston is a census-designated place in Park County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 233 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ralston is located at ....
.
Emi reluctantly accepted his assignment, until late in 1943, when the federal government began submitting questionnaires to internees to determine their willingness to fight for the United States. When the United States decided to reinstate the draft for Japanese American men, Emi joined six other internees to form the Fair Play Committee. The Committee encouraged internees to refuse military service until their full citizenship rights were restored. This did not sit well with the federal government and resulted in the imprisonment of 300 men from ten camps for draft evasion.
The Japanese American Citizens League
Japanese American Citizens League
The was formed in 1929 to protect the rights of Japanese Americans from the state and federal governments. It fought for civil rights for Japanese Americans, assisted those in internment camps during World War II, and led a successful campaign for redress for internment from the U.S...
, the community's leading civil rights organization, was also critical of their actions. They were lobbying the federal government to allow Japanese American men to join the United States war effort. The League called for the protesters to be charged with sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
.
The seven leaders of the Fair Play Committee were convicted of conspiracy to violate the Selective Service Act
Selective Training and Service Act of 1940
The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, also known as the Burke-Wadsworth Act, was passed by the Congress of the United States on September 17, 1940, becoming the first peacetime conscription in United States history when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law two days later...
. Emi served 18 months at the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas
United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth
The United States Penitentiary , Leavenworth was the largest maximum security federal prison in the United States from 1903 until 2005. It became a medium security prison in 2005.It is located in Leavenworth, Kansas...
, despite being exempt from military service. He qualified for a deferment because he was married with children, In December 1945, a federal appeals court overturned the convictions of the leaders.
It would not be until 2000, when the Japanese American Citizens League would reverse their stance and offer the protesters a formal apology.
Frank Emi was the head instructor of the Hollywood Judo Dojo and was credited for producing several national Judo athletes. Frank Emi was promoted to 8th degree Black Belt on 2008.
Emi died on December 1, 2010.