Please join us online
ICUJP Friday Forum
Sept. 19th, 7:30-9:30 am Pacific
Never Again is Now: Japanese Americans Resistance
RSVP AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
Event Description:
It's important for all Americans to know how vulnerable our Constitution is. -- George Takei
When a government forcibly holds enough people indefinitely without trial, it evokes the kinds of raids, detention, and abuses of power associated with authoritarian states - or darker periods in American history. --Ari Melber
The Japanese American community is no stranger to lies and public hysteria when it comes to the use of Executive Orders and the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. For us, that resulted in 120,000+ Japanese Americans being removed from the West Coast to concentration camps. Today we see this being applied to Venezuelans to justify imprisonment in detention centers and deportation.
On Aug 23rd, the Japanese American Incarceration Sites involving Manzanar, Tule Lake, Minidoka, Amache and Bainbridge Island with the support of our communities and in partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association, responded to encroaching authoritarianism after two months of immigration raids in Los Angeles, the imposition of the National Guard against the wishes of our governor and mayor, and menacing, masked Customs and Border Patrol agents who invaded a site where Japanese American families were rounded up during WWII. The result was over 500 people showing up at the Japanese American National Museum, nearly 500 showing up at the Seattle Waterfront, and around 100 showing up at Manzanar, Tule Lake and Rosie the Riveter National Monument.
Join the conversation with our speaker:
Louis Watanabe is a member of the Manzanar Committee. His grandfather Ryozo Kado built the two stone sentry posts and the cemetery monument (Ireito) photographed by Ansel Adams. Louis has been involved with immigration since 2017 after taking the Just Faith social justice program at St. Monica Catholic Church. Last year Louis took CLUE's faith rooted organizing cohort and has been working with hotel/tourism workers. He has union organizing experience from the National Education Association and came in 2nd out of 8 for the Washington State Senate in 2014.
7:30 - 7:35 Log in and socialize
7:35 - 7:45 Welcome and introductions
7:45 - 7:50 Reflection (5 min. maximum)
7:50 - 9:15 Program and Q&A
9:15 - 9:20 Announcements
9:20 - 9:30 Closing circle and prayer
Start your morning with us!
Facilitator: Don Smith
Reflector: Carolfrances Likins
** Meetings begin promptly at 7:30 am Pacific. **
Here's how to join the online meeting:
To join by video conference, you'll need to download the Zoom app on your computer or mobile device. Click on the link to join the meeting and then enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You'll be able to see slides and video, as well as speakers and other attendees.
If you prefer to join by phone, you'll be prompted to enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You won't be able to see the visuals or attendees, but you can view them on the meeting video recording afterward.
If you're new to Zoom and would like to use the video option, we recommend you download the app well ahead of time.
ICUJP Friday Forum 09/19/25
Time: 07:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
RSVP AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
(To find a dial-in number closer to you, go here.)
-----
Please note: Our Friday Forums and other events are open to the public. By attending, you consent to having your voice and likeness recorded, photographed, posted on ICUJP's website and social media, and included in ICUJP materials and publications for noncommercial purposes. If you don't want to be photographed or recorded, please let the facilitator know.
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace recognizes the Gabrieliño Tongva as the past, present, and future caretakers of the land, water, and cultural resources in the unceded territory of Los Angeles.
2025 Regas Awards Honoree Spotlight: Dick Price & Sharon Kyle
ICUJP 2025 George F. Regas Courageous Peacemaker Awards
Meeting The Moment
Sunday, September 28, 2025 • 3:00 - 5:00 pm, Holman United Methodist Church
3320 W Adams Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90018
RSVP HERE!
| DONATE HERE! |
All of the 2025 George F. Regas Courageous Peacemakers Honorees this year have excelled in "Meeting the Moment" time and time again in their years of activism, and Dick Price and Sharon Kyle of the L.A. Progressive are not exceptions:
In 2008, Dick Price and Sharon Kyle launched the LA Progressive — intentionally bringing to the fore the progressive voice in Los Angeles with a focus on the centrality of race. Their mission was and is to provide a platform for progressive thought, opinion, and perspectives on current events.
The LA Progressive openly and unapologetically supports and employs advocacy journalism.
They edit and publish the LA Progressive, which openly supports and employs advocacy journalism, and is a member of The Media Consortium, an international network of over 70 leading independent progressive journalism organizations, and founded and host The Left Coast Forum — an annual convening of progressive activists, scholars, organizers, documentarians, media organizations and others who work to understand and restructure systems of oppression, and are committed to advocating for the public interest as opposed to the corporate agenda.
Dick is a long-time publisher, Vietnam Veteran, and anti-war activist. Sharon, who holds a Juris Doctor, is a professor of law but spent more than 20 yrs working for NASA before shifting gears and pursuing her passion for social justice.
Only days after the devastating 9/11 attacks, the late Rev. George F. Regas brought together Christians, Jews, Muslims, Quakers, humanists and people of many faiths and beliefs to establish Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, with the mission that Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence.
Since its founding 24 years ago, ICUJP has remained true to George's vision, holding over 1,000 Friday Forums with speakers from all over the world, and engaging in a wide range of activities to advance the struggle for justice and peace.
The event is free, but we would appreciate voluntary donations of $25, $50 or $100 per person. See below regarding Sponsorship packages.
2. For checks, please mail to the address below. Please write "Regas Awards 2024” in the “memo” or “for” line of the check.
|
Sponsorship Benefits |
$1,000 |
$500 |
$250 |
$100 |
$50 |
|
Ad in online tribute book will rotate on screen before and after event which will be posted online indefinitely |
Full page |
Half page |
Quarter page |
Name and logo |
Name in list |
| Table at event | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
|
Name and logo in all event materials |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Click Here to Submit a Tribute Ad
Individual sponsor tickets to help underwrite our expenses are $25, $50, $70, and $100 apiece.
Please let us know of your interest in becoming a sponsor by emailing [email protected]. Thanks very much for your generous support. We look forward to your co-sponsorship.
Thanks for everything you do in pursuit of justice and peace.
On behalf of ICUJP's Board of Directors,
Stephen Rohde
Chair
Join Us In Fighting Back To Save Our Democracy
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace has been working to end the fearmongering and vengefulness sweeping much of our nation since shortly after September 11th, 2001. When great activists and civic leaders such as Rev. James Lawson, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, Dr. Maher Hathout and many others came together under the vision of Rev. George Regas, the idea that “religious communities must stop blessing war and violence” was considered extreme and confrontational.
Today, there is a new benchmark for being extreme and confrontational - our government and its leaders are actively working towards creating a Fascist America, with the benefit of weak and ineffective push back from the opposition. Every day brings a new political scandal, a new attack on democratic norms, a new reason to panic and just give up.
But through all of it, one thing keeps us steady: our nation has seen much worse, and we will trumph again.
We have endured and spead our message through very trying times - five Presidents, four California Governors, and numerous crises and issues that would shake the resolve of even the most devout and dedicated of activists. But through it all, we go forward in our mission to be the voice for "the least of these", and our determination to create the change we want to see in the world, no matter how vocal and effective the opposition can seem.
For 23 years we have worked for justice and peace, and we don't plan on stopping anytime soon. As our chairperson Steve Rohde says, we are built for this, and we are in this work for the long term.
Recently, Steve Rohde presented a forum to ICUJP members that you can see here - How Trump, Congress, & the Supreme Court are Installing an Imperial Presidency:
In this forum, Steve gave an impassioned plea for all of us to do the work must do to save our democracy from tyranny:
ICUJP operates as a largely volunteer organization with a small part-time paid staff. We have survived for over twenty years through the generosity of individuals and organizations like you. We are honored to be with you in the struggle for Justice and Peace.
There’s still a long road ahead. But if you’re here reading this, we’re already stronger than they want us to be.
Thank you for being with us. Please consider helping ICUJP in its mission.
Thank you for standing with us in this struggle.
Adopt a Day Labor Corner Training Series: Harm reduction post ICE Arrest
Friday, September 19th, 2025
12:00 pm PST/ 2:00 pm CST/ 3:00 pm EST
RSVP HERE!
This hour and a half Zoom presentation by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network will provide essential guidance for responding quickly and effectively when a Day labor is detained by immigration enforcement. Participants will learn how to investigate and confirm the detained individual’s identity and location using publicly available tools.
The presentation will walk through methods to gather accurate information, and work with legal advocates to determine next steps. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of documentation and acting swiftly to protect the rights of the detained person.
In addition to locating and identifying the detained individual, the presentation will cover how to support their family during this crisis. This includes connecting loved ones with mutual aid networks, accessing financial assistance for legal expenses, and providing lists of reliable immigration attorneys and legal service organizations.
Showing 1 reaction