Join me as I sit down with Claudia Katayanagi, an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work brings hidden histories to light. As a fourth-generation Japanese American, Claudia's personal and professional journey led her to uncover the dark realities of World War II’s "Citizen Isolation Centers," a topic explored in her powerful documentary A Bitter Legacy.
In our conversation, we dive deep into the intersection of past and present injustices, examining how the forced internment of Japanese Americans echoes in today’s mass deportation threats, immigrant detentions, and violations of civil rights. We discuss the Enemy Aliens Act of 1798, used as a justification during WWII and again today by the current administration. Claudia’s work, including her latest film, Exile - Community in Conflict, confronts these historical parallels head-on. She shares her firsthand experiences documenting protests at detention centers across the country, from Texas to California, and the urgent need for truth-telling in the face of rising xenophobia.
We also discuss the power of art and storytelling as acts of resistance—how the men and women imprisoned during WWII used paintings, poetry, and prayer to sustain their spirits, and how those lessons resonate in today’s fights for justice. With history repeating itself in disturbing ways, Claudia’s activism through Tsuru for Solidarity reminds us that silence is not an option.
This episode will challenge you. It will inform you. And it will push you to take action. Tune in, learn the truth, and—most importantly—use your voice. Protest. Organize. Vote. Because the fight for justice never ends. SHOW NOTES
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Dameon K. Wroe is a seasoned author with over 24 years of experience, debuting with True Inspirations – A Poetry Collection, Vol. I in 2000. Though not widely known on social media, he is a compelling writer and speaker. After a brief career with Capitol Records in the early ’90s, he transitioned to writing while moonlighting as a songwriter.
Pursuing his childhood dream of law enforcement, Wroe spent 11 years in private security, excelling at Universal Studios Hollywood. There, he gained elite training from retired LAPD SIS detectives and became a top security officer, making numerous felony arrests.
A graduate of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Explorer Program, Wroe’s training proved lifesaving. In 2000, while working armed security at a theater, he engaged in a gunfight with armed robbers, leading to their arrest and imprisonment. His diverse experiences shape his powerful storytelling and motivational speaking today.
Road to Redemption is Dameon K. Wroe’s powerful true story of resilience, injustice, and the pursuit of vindication. After being wrongfully arrested and prosecuted for murder, Wroe is finally breaking his silence about the events of January 1, 2004.
While working as an armed security officer at an upscale apartment complex in Rancho Cucamonga, he fatally shot a man who twice attempted to run him over to avoid arrest. Despite the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department ruling the incident as justifiable self-defense, the District Attorney’s Office prosecuted him in what many describe as an unjust and retaliatory move. Though his attorney dismantled the case, Wroe was pressured into a plea deal for involuntary manslaughter.
Wroe also recounts a 1995 wrongful arrest by LAPD detectives, where he was falsely charged with armed robbery. Despite clear evidence of his innocence, prosecutors pursued the case until a jury acquitted him.
With Road to Redemption, Wroe hopes to inspire legal reforms that prevent malicious prosecutions disproportionately targeting Black men. His heartfelt dedication acknowledges the countless wrongfully convicted individuals, while his gripping story presents a compelling opportunity for filmmakers seeking a true-life courtroom drama filled with action, injustice, and redemption.
More Pending
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