The traditional Roll Call of the Camps during the 44th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on April 27, 2013, at the Manzanar National Historic Site in California’s Owens Valley. Photo by Gann Matsuda
The traditional Roll Call of the Camps during the 44th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on April 27, 2013, at the Manzanar National Historic Site in California’s Owens Valley. Photo courtesy of Gann Matsuda and the Manzanar Committee
LOS ANGELES — The 45th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, sponsored by the Manzanar Committee, is scheduled for noon on Saturday, April 26, at the Manzanar National Historic Site.
Each year, hundreds of students, teachers, community members, clergy and former incarcerees attend the pilgrimage. Planning is under way for the afternoon event as well as for the Manzanar at Dusk program, which is scheduled to take place from 5-8 p.m. that same evening at Lone Pine High School.
Manzanar at Dusk is co-sponsored by the Nikkei Student Unions at California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Long Beach; California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; the University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of California, San Diego.
Through a creative presentation, small group discussions and an open mic session, Manzanar at Dusk participants will have the opportunity to learn about the experiences of those incarcerated in the camps. Participants will also be able to interact with former incarcerees in attendance to hear their personal stories, share their own experiences and discuss the relevance of the concentration camp experience to present-day events and issues.
Further details about the Pilgrimage and the Manzanar at Dusk program will be announced at a later date.
Pilgrimage participants are advised to bring their own lunch, drinks and snacks, as there are no facilities to purchase food at the Manzanar National Historic Site (restaurants and fast food outlets are located in Lone Pine and Independence, which are nearby). Water will be provided at the site.
The Manzanar Committee is dedicated to educating and raising public awareness about the incarceration and violation of civil rights of persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II and to the continuing struggle of all peoples when Constitutional rights are in danger.
A nonprofit organization that has sponsored the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage since 1969, along with other educational programs, the Manzanar Committee has also played a key role in the establishment and continued development of the Manzanar National Historic Site.
The Manzanar National Historic Site is located on U.S. Hwy 395 in California’s Owens Valley, between the towns of Lone Pine and Independence, approximately 230 miles north of Los Angeles.
Lone Pine High School is located at 538 S. Main St. (U.S. Hwy 395), in Lone Pine, nine miles south of the Manzanar National Historic Site, across the street from McDonald’s.
For more information on the 45th Annual Pilgrimage, e-mail info@manzanarcommittee.org, call (323) 662-5102 or check the committee’s blog at http://blog.manzanarcommittee.org.
Originally published on February 21, 2014
