(Washington D.C., Friday, March 1, 2019) – 

When World War II broke out 76 years ago, more than 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were stripped of their rights and imprisoned. Actor George Takei and his family were among those interned in the barbwire-enclosed detention camps.

He said that the internment happened because of fear, prejudice, and the failure of political leaders. Those same factors fuel the crises in our border today.

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) were among the few groups that publicly supported and helped George Takei and his family. Today, Quakers through the Friends Committee on National Legislation continue to advocate for peace, social justice, and strengthening our democracy.

Our tax dollars should be spent alleviating poverty and investing in our future — not rounding up our neighbors or locking out refugees seeking asylum. Petition your members of Congress to strengthen our democracy by not spending billions of dollars to keep out and lock up refugee families. Get involved at fcnl.org/gt

Please help your listeners get involved by placing this PSA in heavy rotation between now and Friday, May 31, 2019.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Friends Committee on National Legislation

:30 PSA SCRIPT

MORE THAN A HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND PEOPLE OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY WERE STRIPPED OF THEIR RIGHTS AND IMPRISONED SEVENTY-SIX YEARS AGO. ACTOR GEORGE TAKEI WAS ONE OF THOSE: (TAKEI) THE INTERMENT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF FEAR, PREJUDICE, AND A FAILURE OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. WE ARE AT ANOTHER MOMENT WHEN ADVOCACY AND POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION. PETITION YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. TELL THEM TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY BY NOT SPENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO KEEP OUT AND LOCK UP REFUGEE FAMILIES. GET INVOLVED AT F-C-N-L DOT ORG SLASH G-T