As part of VC Film Fest, the 20th anniversary of “Stand Up for Justice” will be celebrated with a screening on Saturday, May 4, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum’s Tateuchi Democracy Forum, 100 N. Central Ave. in Little Tokyo.
“Stand Up for Justice” is based on the true story of Ralph Lazo (1924-1992), a Mexican/Irish American teenager from Belmont High School in Los Angeles who went to extraordinary lengths to support his Japanese American friends during World War II by following them to Manzanar.
Lazo was also one of the first to support the movement to seek redress for surviving internees. The film powerfully addresses the violations of civil liberties that Japanese Americans faced during World War II and reveals how one person’s actions earned the undying gratitude of a community.
The 30-minute drama portrays the personal impact of the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans and reveals how one individual’s commitment to friendship and justice earned the everlasting gratitude of a community.
Written and directed by John Esaki. The cast includes Alexis Cruz, Chad Sakamoto, Brittany Ishibashi, Marcus Toji, Greg Hashimoto, Emily Kuroda, Tim Toyama, Ciro Suarez and Sara Rincon.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with members of the production team. Members of Lazo’s family will be in attendance.
Tickets: https://festival.vcmedia.org/2024/movies/stan-up-for-justice-the-ralph-lazo-story/
Venue and parking info: https://festival.vcmedia.org/2024/venues/aratani-janm/