"The Department of Justice Report mandated by the Wartime Violation of
Italian American Civil Liberties Act has been turned over to congress--the
leadership only, for reasons, they say, of personal privacy.
As usual, the doj downplayed this one, and no news agencies, to my
knowledge, have picked up on it. i did get one call from cbs news in los
angeles, and they said they'd do a story when they got the information.
haven't heard back from them.
Why did the doj downplay it? My guess is that the current AG would be
loathe to draw attention to the similiarities between what happened during
WWII to Italian Aliens and what's happening now to middle eastern ones.
The executive order this week to use military
tribunals to try "terrorists" is
rather chilling, and reminds us of what happened
to several dozen italian
americans, naturalized citizens, most on the
west coast, who were exiled
from california by order of the army--with hearings
before military
tribunals.
No charges, No lawyers able to question witnesses
who were kept secret.
it was, in fact, wholly illegal for the military
to have jurisdiction over civilians,
and still is, but the supreme court ruled it
was ok in the japanese cases
(same jurisdiction). The italian americans all
refused to contest the orders,
but many german americans did, and the then justice
department refused to
prosecute them.
The army was furious, but backed down. Those
who are ignorant of history are
condemned to repeat it.
I'm working on a piece on it for Fra Noi--when
i can get a copy of the report
that is.
[RAA Note: A Front Page Headline in todays Los
Angeles Times, November 16,
"None (1200) Jailed Appear Linked to Attacks"]
===================================================
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2001
WWW.USDOJ.GOV CRT
(202) 616-2777
TDD (202) 514-1888
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REVIEW OF
RESTRICTIONS ON
PERSONS OF ITALIAN ANCESTRY
DURING WORLD WAR II
SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - - The Justice Department submitted to the United
States
Congress, pursuant to the Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil
Liberties Act, a review of the restrictions imposed on persons of Italian
ancestry during World War II.
The report includes information about persons of Italian ancestry who
were
arrested during World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The report
documents federal action affecting persons of Italian ancestry within
the
context of wartime orders, proclamations, and directives between September
1939 and December 1945.
The Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act directed
the
Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive review of the treatment
of
persons of Italian ancestry by the federal government and to report
to
Congress.
###
01-596
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2001/November/01_ins_596.htm
