On April 29, 1992, the day of the planned opening of the Japanese American National Museum, the four officers accused of violently beating Rodney King on video were acquitted leading to city-wide civil unrest. The museum’s opening in this moment of racial reckoning has shaped its history forever, much as the uprisings changed the story of all of Los Angeles. Josie Huang (KPCC) will moderate a conversation with Professor Nadia Kim (Loyola Marymount University), Angela E. Oh (LACHRC), and Ambassador Michael Lawson (Los Angeles Urban League). This event will explore the impact of this pivotal moment on our panelists’ lives and work and how we can honor the legacy of this history moving forward. 

This program is part of JANM’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations.