LA Day of Remembrance Committee Announces 2026 Day of Remembrance - The Power of Action: Silence Today, Injustice Tomorrow

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Day of Remembrance (DOR) Committee announced that the annual Day of Remembrance will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the LA Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple – Nishi Betsuin (815 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012).

The Day of Remembrance commemorates the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The order authorized the U.S. military to remove persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast, setting into motion their forced incarceration in American concentration camps during World War II.

This year’s theme, “The Power of Action: Silence Today, Injustice Tomorrow,” emphasizes the importance of speaking out against injustice and reflects the long-standing commitment of the Japanese American community to use its history to support and stand in solidarity with other communities facing similar threats. The theme is especially relevant in today’s climate, as injustices continue to occur daily in neighborhoods in Los Angeles and across the nation, including right here in Little Tokyo.

The 2026 program will feature a new interactive performance element involving committee members and community participants, coordinated by award-winning multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary artist and community organizer traci kato-kiriyama (Tales of Clamor, Navigating With(out) Instruments). The interactive format is designed not only to engage attendees during the program, but also to inspire and empower participants to take action and amplify their voices in support of communities currently being targeted nationwide.

DOR Committee Chair Matthew Weisbly expressed the wishes of the committee, stating, “We are excited to have traci back this year for what we hope will be a profound and unique approach to Day of Remembrance. As we move forward year to year, we always look for ways to evolve and deepen our connection with attendees and the broader community. We hope that this year we can energize participants and connect with them in ways that make them feel empowered to take action, perhaps in ways they had not previously considered.

“Our community has always emphasized the importance of remembering our history and sharing it, lest it be repeated. But many people today feel unsure about where to begin. We hope this program can serve as a stepping stone for those taking their first steps into broader engagement, and for those already involved, a moment of reinvigoration and a reminder of why we do the work we do.”

To RSVP for the 2026 Day of Remembrance, go to: 
https://www.janm.org/events/2026-02-21/2026-los-angeles-day-remembrance

The Day of Remembrance will also be livestreamed on the Japanese American National Museum’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/JANMdotorg

Contact: Matthew Weisbly, email: mweisbly@jacl.org