NCAPA Responds to House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s Comments with Regards to Internment of Japanese-Americans During World War II

Washington, DC—National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) National Director Gregg Orton and The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Executive Director David Inoue issued the following statement in response House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s with regards to internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II:

NCAPA National Director, Gregg Orton stated: “the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans stands with the Jewish and Muslim-American communities. We believe now more than ever, we must lean on each other and trust that when words are misconstrued or misunderstood, our support for each other is resolute and unwavering.

The recent comments made by Majority Whip Clyburn with regards to the internment of Japanese-Americans admittedly may be painful for many, as discrimination against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are far too often erased or diminished from America’s collective memory. However, Whip Clyburn has been an unapologetic advocate for communities of color throughout his long career in Congress. His leadership has been instrumental in markedly improving the lives of millions of Americans—including the AAPI community. Therefore, we believe this is a moment where we must trust, that despite words that may miss the mark, we are all still committed to supporting each other.”  

JACL Executive Director, David Inoue stated: “this nation is stronger because we can recognize the egregious wrong that was done to Japanese-Americans during World War II. We can, at the same time, recognize the poignancy of Representative Omar's experience and the important role descendants of survivors play in keeping community history alive and relevant. The fight against discrimination and hate is strengthened when we can identify the common aspects of our experiences as House Majority Whip Clyburn found with Representative Omar's and Norman Mineta's stories.”