Symposium attendees and participants included (from left) past Portland JACL Presidents Rich Iwasaki, Setsy Larouche and Chip Larouche, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lynn Longfellow of the Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Peggy Nagae.
PORTLAND, ORE. — “Inspiring Action and Igniting Justice,” a symposium to honor the life and legacy of Minoru Yasui, the only Oregonian to have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was held on April 23 at the World Trade Center.
Karen Narasaki, who was appointed by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 2014 was the event’s keynote speaker.
The symposium featured expert panelists at three different workshops: “Cross Cultural — Activism,” “Education — Roots to Results” and “Law and Social Change” and was opened by Peggy Nagae, the lead attorney for Min Yasui’s Coram Nobis case. Attendees were also treated to a speech by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)
The all-day event was organized by the Oregon Nikkei Endowment and the Min Yasui Tribute Committee, with Portland JACL acting as sustaining sponsor.
— Setsy and Chip Larouche, Portland JACL
