Nisei Activist
Ina Sugihara (Japanese: 杉原 イナ,[1] September 7, 1919 – September 16, 2004) was a civil rights activist who co-founded the Congress of Racial Equality's (CORE) New York chapter and the Japanese American Citizens League's (JACL) New York branch, which was JACL's first multiracial chapter.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Sugihara was a Nisei born in Las Animas, Colorado on September 7, 1919, to William Bonsaku and Takeyo Sugihara, who were both Japanese immigrants.[6][7][8] She studied at Long Beach Community College and the University of California, Berkeley.[6] In March 1942, Sugihara moved to New York City to avoid being incarcerated during World War II due to her Japanese heritage.[4][6] In 1943, Sugihara became a founding member of CORE's New York's branch.[8] Sugihara emphasized cross-cultural solidarity in her activism.[3][8] She assisted in organizing the Japanese American Citizens League's New York branch, which was JACL's first multiracial chapter [5][8] She was also active in the NAACP and wrote a piece titled "Our Stake in a Permanent FEPC" in 1945 for The Crisis.[4][3][8]
Sugihara died in White Plains on September 16, 2004.[8]
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