In recognition of Feb. 19 as Day of Remembrance, an official proclamation was shared with leadership from the Refugees and Immigrants Support and Empowerment (RISE) Affinity Group and the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacifica (AANHP) Affinity Group.

Day of Remembrance honors the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated during World War II. This observance serves as a reminder of the harm caused by fear-driven policies and the importance of protecting civil liberties for all.

“Remembering this history is essential to preventing the repetition of policies and practices that target individuals and communities based on race, nationality, language, immigration status, or perceived identity,” reads the official proclamation.

It continues with a statement from King County Executive Girmay Zahilay for “residents to use this as a chance to recommit to the fight for dignity, civil rights, and justice for all in our region.”

RISE and AANHP leaders accepted the proclamation on behalf of King County employees, reaffirming a shared commitment to equity, accountability, and standing against injustice in all its forms. We thank the Executive Office for its partnership and for recognizing this important day in our shared history.

Learn more about the RISE and AANHP Affinity Groups here, and view the official proclamation here.

Pictured: From left to right, Ken Nsimbi, Lilly Roberts, Fedilla Kassa, and Evelyn Chow from the Executive Office and Nasir Khudaiberdiev, Marjan Didra, and Lisa Pan from the RISE and AANHP Affinity Groups.