Reading Room Document

Federal Jurisdiction over Violence against Japanese-Americans

This memo explored the issue of jurisdiction in regard to the federal government’s desire to protect Asian-American citizens from discrimination throughout the country. The OLC noted that the federal government could only intervene when there has been a violation of a federal rights. Thus, it could be possible to find jurisdiction when Japanese-Americans were prevented from exercising their rights under the G.I. Bill of Rights. The OLC recommended that more information should be collected on those incidents to assess if the allegations are substantial enough to amount to a denial of the right to equal protection under the law. The OLC also recommended that when dealing with cases of discrimination on Servicemen’s Honor Rolls, the attorney general should seek the “the cooperation of the Legion and other veterans’ organizations to correct the situation.” This memo includes a proposed directive from President Roosevelt on the subject.

January 3, 1946