February 19 Marks Anniversary of US Internment of Japanese – Star Trek’s George Takei Recalls [VIDEO]

February 19 marks the anniversary of a day that will long haunt the memories of Japanese-Americans living in the Unites States during the second World War. It was on this day in 1942 President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which ultimately resulted in the internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans. One of those incarcerated was none other than a four year old George Takei, known to many today as Mr. Sulu from Star Trek.

Executive Order 9066 authorizes the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones. The order was largely motivated by hysteria surrounding the war. As a result, over 120,000 American citizens of Japanese ancestry and resident aliens of Japan were relocated and incarcerated.

George Takei takes his childhood experiences of living in internment caps in Arkansas and California and brings them to a new generation with the musical "Allegiance."