Members of the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus submitted a letter to Modoc County Road Commissioner Mitch Crosby on Oct. 10, opposing the proposed fence at Tulelake Municipal Airport in Modoc County.
The contents of the letter is as follows:
“On behalf of the California Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus, we are writing in strong opposition to the proposed fence at the Tulelake Municipal Airport in Modoc County.
“The California API Legislative Caucus prides itself in its work and advocacy to ensure that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a strong voice in our community and State Capitol. This is why we are standing behind the preservation of the Tule Lake War Relocation Center, a site that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, California Historical Landmark and one of only nine sites of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.
“Tule Lake was a Japanese maximum-security internment camp where the federal government forced more than 24,000 Japanese Americans to relocate, including two former members of the California State Legislature. Not only was it one of 10 camps where Japanese Americans were sent during World War II, it was also considered to be the site of with the harshest and more severe conditions.
“The site at Tule Lake remains as a physical reminder of the dark time in our history, marred with segregation and hatred against Japanese Americans during World War II. Preventing further damage to this landmark is imperative because it serves to educate future generations about the mistakes of our past in an effort to learn from them and make progress. Construction of a fence will impede access to a place that holds significance to our American history.
The API Legislative Caucus urges Modoc County to honor those Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated and stop the proposed fence at the Tulelake Municipal Airport. We appreciate your consideration of this issue.”
The letter was signed by:
Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), chair, API Legislative Caucus
Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), vice chair, API Legislative Caucus
Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park)
Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-San Jose)
Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego)
Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose)
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)
Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles)
Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)
The API Legislative Caucus, established in 2001, represents and advocates for the interests of the diverse API communities throughout California.
In regards to the Tulelake Airport fence, Modoc County recently sent out notices requesting public “comment” on the airport fence it sought to construct over the past decade to close off the airport that occupies two-thirds of the concentration camp site.
The Tule Lake Committee has been asking for the public’s assistance in responding to the county’s request for comment in order to save the site from destruction.
