Pomona Assembly Center

Pomona Assembly Center was a temporary detention facility used during World War II to hold Japanese Americans before they were transferred to more permanent War Relocation Authority camps. The center was operated by the Western Defense Command and the Wartime Civil Control Administration, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department. The facility was also supported by the American Red Cross and the Yale University-affiliated Institute of Human Relations. Notable figures such as Earl Warren, Caleb Foote, and Abe Fortas were involved in the establishment and operation of the center.

● History

The Pomona Assembly Center was established in April 1942, following the issuance of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which authorized the forced relocation of Japanese Americans from the West Coast to inland areas. The center was set up at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, California, with the help of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the California State Guard. The facility was designed to hold approximately 5,000 people, and was operated by a staff that included United States Army personnel, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, and American Red Cross volunteers. Notable events, such as the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway, contributed to the center's establishment. The center's operation was also influenced by the Lend-Lease Act and the Atlantic Charter.

● Location

The Pomona Assembly Center was located in Pomona, California, in the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. The facility was situated near the San Bernardino Freeway and the Pomona Valley, and was accessible by train and bus. The center was also close to the California Institute of Technology and the Claremont Colleges, which provided some support and resources to the facility. Nearby cities, such as Los Angeles and San Bernardino, were also involved in the center's operation, with organizations like the Los Angeles Times and the San Bernardino Sun providing coverage of the facility. The location was chosen due to its proximity to the Port of Los Angeles and the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, as well as its accessibility to the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

● Incarceration

The Pomona Assembly Center was used to detain Japanese Americans who were forcibly relocated from their homes on the West Coast. The detainees were primarily from California, but also included people from Oregon and Washington. The facility was operated under the authority of the War Relocation Authority, which was headed by Milton Eisenhower and later by Dillon Myer. The detainees were held at the center for several months before being transferred to more permanent camps, such as Manzanar and Poston. Conditions at the center were harsh, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food and medical care. The detainees were also subject to strict rules and regulations, enforced by the United States Army Military Police Corps and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Notable figures, such as Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui, were detained at the center, along with organizations like the Japanese American Citizens League.

● Closure

The Pomona Assembly Center was closed in August 1942, after approximately 5,000 Japanese Americans had been detained and transferred to other camps. The facility was shut down due to the completion of the more permanent camps, such as Tule Lake and Gila River. The center's closure was also influenced by the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Allied invasion of Sicily, which marked a turning point in the war. The War Relocation Authority was disbanded in 1946, and the Japanese American Claims Act was passed in 1948 to provide compensation to those who had been detained. The closure of the center was also covered by news organizations like the New York Times and the Washington Post.

● Legacy

The Pomona Assembly Center is remembered as a symbol of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The facility's history is commemorated by the Pomona Valley Historical Society and the Japanese American National Museum, which provide exhibits and educational programs about the center. The Manzanar National Historic Site and the Tule Lake National Monument also serve as reminders of the War Relocation Authority camps and the Japanese American experience during the war. Notable figures, such as George Takei and Janice Hahn, have spoken out about the importance of remembering the Pomona Assembly Center and the internment of Japanese Americans. The center's legacy is also recognized by organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Category:Japanese American internment