7.4 Resistance and compliance within the camps

Japanese Americans in internment camps faced a difficult choice: resist or comply. Some protested openly through strikes and riots, while others resisted covertly with secret newspapers and meetings. Legal challenges and artistic expression were also forms of resistance.

Personal beliefs, family considerations, and fear of repercussions influenced decisions to resist or comply. Cultural factors, education, and camp conditions also played a role. Consequences for resistance included punishment, social ostracism, and post-war challenges.

Forms of Resistance and Protest

Forms of resistance in internment camps

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• Overt resistance challenged camp authorities openly through strikes halting work, riots protesting conditions (Manzanar Riot 1942, Tule Lake Incident 1943), petitions demanding improved treatment
• Covert resistance operated underground with secret newspapers circulating information, clandestine meetings organizing dissent, cultural practices preserving Japanese heritage quietly
• Legal challenges contested internment through habeas corpus petitions asserting unlawful detention, landmark cases questioning constitutionality (Korematsu v. United States, Hirabayashi v. United States)
• Artistic expression conveyed internee experiences via poetry capturing camp life, visual arts depicting confinement conditions, crafts maintaining cultural traditions
• Non-cooperation rejected camp policies by refusing loyalty questionnaires questioning allegiance, renouncing US citizenship in protest

Factors influencing resistance vs compliance

• Personal beliefs shaped responses based on loyalty to US values, sense of injustice motivating action, desire for equality driving protest
• Family considerations weighed protecting vulnerable members against speaking out, maintaining unity influenced decisions
• Fear of repercussions deterred some from resisting due to physical punishment threats, potential loss of limited privileges or rations
• Cultural factors like gaman (enduring hardship stoically) influenced compliance, generational differences between Issei and Nisei affected approaches
• Education and awareness of constitutional rights empowered some to challenge policies, exposure to democratic ideals inspired resistance
• Camp conditions severity of restrictions and poor living standards sometimes sparked protest, other times encouraged compliance for survival
• External support from sympathetic outsiders encouraged resistance, legal assistance from civil rights groups enabled formal challenges

Consequences and Organizational Involvement

Consequences of challenging camp policies

• Punitive measures imposed solitary confinement for dissent, transferred "troublemakers" to high-security camps (Tule Lake), reduced rations penalizing protesters
• Legal repercussions included criminal charges for resisters, extended internment periods prolonging confinement
• Social consequences ostracized resisters within camp communities, labeled individuals as "disloyal" affecting relationships
• Post-war impacts hindered resettlement efforts, created employment challenges, subjected former internees to continued government surveillance
• Psychological effects inflicted trauma from punishment, increased feelings of alienation and disillusionment with American ideals

Role of JACL in resistance dynamics

• Japanese American Citizens League advocated cooperation with government policies, promoted loyalty among internees, served as liaison between residents and authorities
• Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee organized draft resistance, encouraged civil disobedience challenging military service requirements
• Buddhist and Christian organizations provided spiritual support, mediated conflicts between internees and administration
• American Friends Service Committee assisted with resettlement efforts, advocated for internees' rights outside camps
• National Japanese American Student Relocation Council facilitated college attendance for interned students, enabling educational opportunities
• American Civil Liberties Union offered legal support challenging internment policies, represented internees in landmark court cases questioning constitutionality