Fred T. Korematsu

Law school launches Korematsu Center for Law and Equality April 18

Seattle University School of Law will host a conference, “Looking Back, Reaching Forward,” to celebrate the founding of its new Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, Saturday, April 18.

The morning session will look back on the historic struggle for equality, focusing on the World War II Japanese American internment cases, the “coram nobis” cases fighting Korematsu’s conviction for refusing to comply with orders removing Japanese Americans from the West Coast, and their present day relevance. The date of the conference was selected to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the decision vacating Korematsu’s conviction.

The afternoon session will bring together advocacy groups and academics to discuss ways to forge partnerships to further the cause of equality.

The Center’s mission is broad in scope, seeking to foster critical thinking on issues of, and support advocacy efforts in order to achieve, equality with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability, age, and religion.  It will be an incubator of ideas, as well as a gathering point for teachers and students, scholars and activists.

There is no charge to attend, but space is limited and registration is required by April 8. Register online or by calling 206-398-4300. Read more about the center.