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Promoting Democracy
The BeHere/1942 exhibition will run through October 2022 at the Japanese American National Museum.
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Josie Huang/LAist
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Topline:
The country’s premier museum about the Japanese American experience is reimagining ways to promote civic engagement, starting with renaming its Democracy Center after the late Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Why the new name: The Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo wanted to mark a new era for its Democracy Center. More than ever, officials say, the focus has to be on protecting democracy. Upcoming programming and lecture series will focus on everything from civil rights to the arts.
Why Inouye: JANM chose to rename its Democracy Center after Inouye because of his place in defending democracy. The Democrat from Hawaii served on congressional committees investigating the Iran-Contra and Watergate scandals. He was also the first Japanese American elected to both the House and the Senate.
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New initiatives: The center will also award fellowships to emerging writers of color and launch a new program intended to promote dialogue with Japan. Starting next year, American and Japanese leaders in fields like government and media will take part in a year-long program that spans the globe, including visits to cities such as Tokyo, D.C., New York and L.A.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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