Takano Slams Comparison of Jan. 6 Insurrection to Japanese American Incarceration by DC’s US Attorney

WASHINGTON D.C. — CAPAC First Vice Chair Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) slammed Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, for his comparison of insurrectionists at the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol to the incarceration of the more than 125,000 innocent Japanese Americans during the Second World War—which included Rep. Takano’s own parents and grandparents. 

“I am appalled by Mr. Martin’s remarks,” said Rep. Takano. “To compare violent insurrectionists to innocent families imprisoned without due process because of their ancestry is offensive and detached from reality. It diminishes both the seriousness of the January 6th insurrection and the injustice of Japanese American incarceration. A U.S. Attorney should know that justice is based on accountability, not wild distortions of the facts.”

Background on Rep. Takano:

• Son and grandson of innocent Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII
• Author of legislative package to honor the life of civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, as well as legislation to expand civil rights protections named after Korematsu
• First openly gay person of Asian descent elected to Congress

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