TORRANCE — Kanji Sahara will discuss the 1913 Alien Land Law on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, 2115 W. 182nd St., Torrance.
The program is sponsored by the Greater L.A. Singles chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. All are welcome. Sahara is GLAS JACL vice president of legislation.
The Alien Land Law was the first discriminatory law enacted against the Issei. It prevented them from buying land in California. Its purpose was to cause hardship and suffering so that the Issei would return to Japan. Eight other states quickly followed with similar laws.
Topics covered in Sahara’s slide presentation will include: the “Chinese Problem”; how Issei were “selected” to immigrate to Hawaii; the Gentlemen’s Agreement; reason for the picture brides; why Nisei women lost their citizenship by marrying Issei men; and which state still has an alien land law.
Since 2013 marked the 100th anniversary of the Alien Land Law, all Nikkei should learn how the Issei were treated during that time, event organizers said.
All are welcome. For information, call Louise at (310) 327-3169 or Janet at (310) 835-7568.