Gordon Hirabayashi was one of the approximately 45 Japanese American draft resisters who were sent to the Catalina Federal Honor Camp (now the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site) in the Santa Catalina Mountains during WWII. Committed to non-violent resistance to the unconstitutional racially motivated curfew on, and removal of, Japanese Americans during WWII he served 90 days at the Catalina Federal Honor Camp after his initial conviction was unanimously upheld by the Supreme court in 1943. It would be over 40 years before a 1987 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling finally overturned his wrongful conviction.
Published 2013 A Principled Stand is a collection of Gordon Hirabayashi’s writings and letters – published and unpublished – that have been selected and edited by James A. Hirabayashi, Gordon’s bother, and Lane Ryo Hirabayashi, Gordon’s Nephew.
Of particular interest to readers of this site may be the chapter on the Catalina Federal Honor Camp – a few quotes:
Page 150:
There are approximately two hundred inmates, and most are engaged in constructing a road to the mountain resort at the top of the hill. I joined the road crew that worked crushing and shoveling rocks into a dump truck, which was quite monotonous and a non-incentive activity, I assure you.
Consequently, by November 1943, at my request, I was transferred to the baking department. There I became “adept” at mixing, rolling, and baking bread, learning the techniques for various rolls, pies, cakes, etc. I hope to learn something by the time I leave.
Page 152:
There were a lot of Mexican border jumpers … , quite a few selective service cases, many Jehovah’s Witnesses, several pacifists of the FOR type. The latter group was the most aesthetic in appreciation, and I joined them once in climbing a little hill back of the camp to gaze at the beautiful, indescribable Arizona sunsets. The Native Indians were of two types. One type, which included many traditional Hopis, was objecting to being drafted into a white man’s war.
Page 154:
A group of us retreat to our favorite meditation spot for a refreshing, stimulating period of quiet. My thoughts: There is no excuse for tolerating injustice or violation of the brotherhood of man merely because we are incarcerated.
Page 155:
Periods of meditation are Quaker in style and spirit. Under the open sky and hills, we feel very close to the nature of things. Life becomes meaningful in a vivid way.
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- A Principled Stand, The Story of Hirabayashi v. United States by Gordon K. Hirabayashi with James A. Hirabayashi and Lane Ryo Hirabayashi
- University of Washington Press, PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145, USA, 2013
- ISBN 978-0-295-80464-4
- Amazon