Grant Program for Civil Liberties Projects Now Open

Funding is available to educate Californians about Japanese-American internment and civil liberty issues. Guidelines for $950,000 in grants under the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program were released today by the California State Library. The release follows the annual Day of Remembrance, commemorating President Franklin Roosevelt’s signature on February 19, 1942 of Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of civilians and others from “military zones” established in Washington, Oregon, and California during World War II. Roosevelt’s signature led to the forced removal of some 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry from their homes to desolate relocation camps that were de facto incarceration facilities.

The deadline for applications is April 20, 2018. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and local and state government agencies. Grant requests for up to $100,000 can be made for large-scale preservation, public media or educational projects. Community projects have a maximum of $30,000. More information at http://www.library.ca.gov/grants/civil-liberties/ Questions about the Civil Liberties Program for potential applicants can be directed to Mary Beth Barber, Special Projects and Assistant to the State Librarian, at 916-323-9758 or Marybeth.barber@library.ca.gov.