Japanese American Citizens' League. Seattle Chapter

The Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League served as the voice of the Nisei (second generation Japanese). The members (primarily professionals) tended to be highly nationalistic and proud of their American citizenship, promoting good citizenship and active participation in civic life. Organized 1921, as Seattle Progressive Citizens' League, it became the Seattle Chapter of national Japanese American Citizens League in 1930.

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League met to organize an Emergency Defense Council composed of the presidents of many Nisei organizations. When incarceration became inevitable, the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League began to cooperate with the War Relocation Authority in the removal and in governing the Puyallup Assembly Center (Camp Harmony). James Sakamoto, Chairman of the Emergency Defense Council, became Chief Supervisor of the Japanese staff at the Puyllup Assembly Center.

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