The second Topaz Community Outreach meeting was held on Saturday, August 13 in San Francisco. Four of the survivors who started this petition were in attendance:

Toru Saito, 84
Akemi Yamane Ina, 79
Kiyoshi Ina, 79
Masako Takahashi, 78

They reported that, again, the structure of the meeting did not allow for any community discussion. Toru, Akemi, Kiyoshi, and Masako repeatedly tried to ask questions of the person running the meeting, but the questions were either rebuffed or unanswered.

As a survivor Toru Saito said, "I'm feeling this pressure of not being heard, the things that I want and things that I want to express are not being heard. We're being held hostage. It’s so insulting. At this point in time in my life, I have to sit back and watch some other person who was never in the camp. Their parents were never in any camp. You're going to tell me what to do with our camp and one of our fallen people is so insulting. That's the hardest part for me to take. It's so goddamn insulting that you would treat me--an 84 year old guy-- like who cares what you think or feel."

Toru is also thinking about his parent's generation and all those who have already passed:

"I'm doing this for my mother and my family and some of your families too because dead people can’t talk. We can still talk, and if we can’t express our feelings in a civil, heartfelt way, we’re wasting our time."

Please keep sharing out the petition to uplift the voices of survivors and let them know we hear them!

There are two virtual meetings planned, one is tonight at 6p PT and the other is Tuesday, August 30 at 5p PT. 

VIRTUAL MEETINGS

Monday, August 15
6p PDT
Registration Link

Tuesday, August 30
5p PDT
Registration Link

Please consider attending a meeting to give your opinion to the Topaz Museum Board!