The power to change the injustice toward minority groups in America is “in the youth,” said sophomore teacher preparation and math major John Kanemoto at today’s Voices Unite in Solidarity: Japanese-American and Muslim-American Experiences Post 9/11 forum.

The forum, which was held in the Redwood Room, focused on paralleling the experiences of Japanese-Americans during World War II and Muslim-Americans after 9/11.

Speakers included Carole Hayashino, Sacramento State’s vice president of university advancement, Adel Syed, civil rights coordinator for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, and Andy Noguchi, representative from the Japanese-American Citizen League, or JACL.

The speakers shared their personal experiences as Japanese-Americans and Muslim-Americans living in America.

“I was just in eighth grade on Sept. 11 when I saw the second plane hit the building on T.V.,” Syed said. “I knew my life would change forever.”

Syed said that after 9/11, not only Muslim-Americans, but also the Sikh, Mexicans and Christian Arabs were all profiled.

“I’ve been profiled at the airport before when traveling back from overseas,” Syed said.

Syed also said it’s important for second- and third-generation families in America to fight causes the first generations might not understand.

“It’s important for minorities of any community to tell their narrative themselves,” Syed said, rather than the media, such as CNN or Fox News.

The forum also utilized videos to relay its message.

Racism and war hysteria were the primary causes of the mistreatment of minorities, said a Japanese-American speaker featured in the Manzanar Documentary 2008 presented by CAIR.

“Think about what images really stuck with you,” Kanemoto said, after the video finished.

The video documented an overall theme of the forum, the injustice in Manzanar, Calif.

Manzanar was one of 10 internment camps where Japanese-Americans were sent during World War II.

“I enjoyed the presentation and how they brought it full circle and the parallelism between Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attacks,” said junior anthropology and art studio major Theresa Hanks. “I really enjoyed that they provided information on the Manzanar trip. To fully experience history we should go there and see, not just read.”

Each speaker focused on the importance on taking a trip to visit the historical site. The fifth annual pilgrimage to the site will be from April 23 to 25. The pilgrimage is sponsored by the Sacramento chapter of CAIR and the JACL.

Despite low attendance, Syed said the event was a success.

“I think it was a successful event. A lot of stories and experiences were shared that wouldn’t be (shared) in a normal classroom setting,” Syed said.

Cahil Bhanji can be reached at [email protected].