in celebration of the 60th anniversary of
Oyama v. California
Landmark Supreme Court Victory
The Honorable H. Lee Sarokin, Retired
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
and
ACLU client Kajiro Oyama’s children, Fred Oyama and Alice Yano
for an
Anniversary celebration of our landmark case
Oyama v. California
Wine, Authentic Japanese Appetizers & Sushi
by Pacific Island Catering
Live Koto Guitar
Wednesday, September 24, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Balboa Park
Japanese Friendship Garden
[Directions} and [Map]
Just north of the Organ Pavilion
Sixty years ago, famed ACLU attorney A.L. Wirin represented a Chula Vista family, the Oyamas, whose house and land had been seized by the government under California’s Alien Land Act, which forbade “aliens ineligible for citizenship” [non-whites] to own land.
Wirin and the Oyamas lost in the lower courts, but ultimately overturned the discriminatory land seizures. The U.S. Supreme Court victory applied new legal standards that paved the way for subsequent decisions affording equal rights to all Americans of all colors, races and ethnicities.
We will also celebrate the conclusion of the ACLU’s 2008 Constitution Day program. On Sept. 17, volunteer attorneys will teach San Diego County students about our foundational documents and key cases like Oyama as part of the ACLU’s Constitutional Civics Program.
