MONTEREY HOSTS TEACHER TRAINING

The Monterey Peninsula Chapter of the JACL is set to host a National JACL Education Committee
teacher training on March 25 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the JACL Hall at 424 Adams Street, Monterey.
Guest speakers for the event are Dr. David Yamada, Professor Emeritus of MPC, and Larry Oda,
National JACL President. The training focuses broadly on the internment of civilians of Japanese ancestry
during World War II and specifically on the Monterey Petition welcoming the Japanese back to Monterey.
In 1945, as World War II was winding down, 120,000 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry
were freed after three years of incarceration. The return of Japanese Americans to their homes in
California, Oregon, and Washington was often marked by vigilante violence and the pressure of certain
groups to keep out Japanese Americans permanently. More acts of violence and terrorism were
committed against Japanese Americans at the end of the war than at the beginning.
When news of hostilities for those returning to their homes reached those still remaining in the camps,
many were reluctant to return home. Given just $25.00 and a train ticket, several thousand Japanese
Americans made the long trip back to begin their lives anew.
A few courageous and compassionate citizens in Monterey sought to be the allies of their Japanese
American neighbors and initiated the “Monterey Petition”. Our conversation will focus on that petition and
its implications.
The application and registration will be available online soon at jacl.org/2023workshops. There is a
$25.00 registration fee, refreshments and lunch will be served, training materials will be provided and
participants will receive a stipend for attending.
For more information contact Carolyn McCombs, 209-418-8431