For His People

History:: Experience:: Redress Act

Robert Matsui was a great advocate for civil rights, especially for minorities, but his most important fight for civil rights was for his people's reparations. Events during the 1900s instigated the rise of anti-Japanese feelings. With the attack of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were immediately placed into internment camps by the government, violating civil rights of these citizens. Matsui as a congressman pushed really hard for the redress of Japanese Americans. The Japanese Redress Act became the basis for attempts to pass other reparations.