In response

A demand for sanity and safety

To the editor:

This historic presidential election season has poisoned our national spirit with bewildering bigotry, sexism, hate and vulgarity.

Immediately after the election, innocent people from across America — based solely on their race, faith, gender and sexual orientation — have been encased in an overpowering fog of terror, unjustly victimized with threats, intimidation and violence.

We have lived this story. Bainbridge Island, Washington was the first community where under a dark cloud of racial prejudice, fear, uncertainty and a shameful lack of political leadership, Japanese Americans were wrongly exiled from the west coast during World War II.

However, the majority of our community believed in our fundamental constitutional rights and protections, stood by their friends and neighbors, and refused to succumb to bigotry and hatred.

Our government and political leaders failed miserably to protect rights, safety and human decency in World War II, but have since honorably apologized and admitted their tragic errors.

Let us not repeat history.

Now is the time for everyone — especially all political leaders from President-Elect Donald Trump to all elected officials — and business, civic and community leaders to forcefully condemn any and all actions, threats, terrorization and violence based on prejudice, hate, racism, sexism, xenophobia, jingoism and homophobia.

We have a saying on our island: Nidoto Nai Yoni – “Let It Not Happen Again.”

Please join us by standing up for civil liberties, rights, protections and safeguarding basic human dignity and safety.

CLARENCE MORIWAKI

For the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community, Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, Bainbridge Island Multi-Cultural Advisory Council and more than 200 elected officials and business, civic and community leaders and citizens