It's May 30th, 1942 in San Leandro, California.

Neatly dressed in a pressed shirt and cap, 23-year-old Fred Korematsu walks alone down a sunbag street. He checks his wrist

watch and quickens his pace because he's running late to meet his girlfriend. The air shimmers with

heat. All across California, temperatures are rising, and so are suspicions. America is at war

with Japan, and on the West Coast, that doesn't just mean

curfews and blackouts. Thousands of Japanese Americans like Fred have been detained as

potential spies or saboteurs. But Fred has some protection. In his pocket are forged documents

that list him as Spanish-American. But Fred still wonders if there'll be enough.

And out of the corner of his eye, Fred notices a police officer across the street speaking

into his radio.

Fred doesn't break stride, though.

He tries to act like he has every right to be here.

But then the officer crosses the street and demands to see Fred's ID. Fred reaches into his

pocket and produces a beige card, a draft registration listing him as Clyde Sarah, born in California

to Spanish and Hawaiian parents. The officer studies the card, glances at Fred, then back at the

card. Fred's palms begin to slick with sweat,

and his heart starts pounding. After a pause, though, the officer hands the card back. Fred

exhales, forces a smile, then continues down the street. But before he's gone more than a few

steps, the officer blows his whistle.

Fred turns to see a police car swinging around the corner.

It screeches to a hall by his side, and two officers leap out.

They seize Fred and cuff him.

...