feelings in the temporary centers
The internees were diminished to a number and were treated like animals. Since many of the temporary centers had previously housed livestock, the prisoners were housed in horse stalls and slept on straw from the stables. As described in Imprisoned, “It was degrading; it was frustrating; but most of all, for many of the internees, it was frightening.”
Unfortunately, many Japanese-American organizations were misled by government officials, who promised that evacuees were being transported to “resettlement communities,” not prison camps. Furthermore, the internees were petrified of the armed soldiers. A report written by a government observer investigating the assembly centers noted: “The guards, have been instructed to shoot anyone who attempts to leave the Center without a permit, and who refuses to halt when ordered to do so. The guards are armed with guns that are effective at a range of up to 500 yards.” Some of the imprisoned young children asked their parents to return to America, not realizing that their temporary centers were in America. The children could not believe their own country could do this to them. Children overheard their parents’ conversation of being sent away, and anticipated a fun-filled vacation or adventure. Upon arrival at the detention centers, they were overwhelmed and frightened. One youngster looked at the tall guard towers and innocently remarked, “Mommy who are they afraid of?” |
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