vintage video: speaking out for internment reparations

I came across this video clip a few months back, and have been meaning to post it here for a while. This is an old video of Ron Dellums, current Mayor of Oakland, speaking out for redress of Japanese American internees, back when he was serving as a member of Congress, circa 1987-88.

At the time, there was a campaign underway seeking an official apology and reparations for the U.S. government's internment of Japanese American during World War II. It was ultimately successful, and President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 into law.

Here, Dellums is arguing against an amendment that would have watered down the reparations. Say what you will about Dellums' politics today -- the video's old, and the quality's pretty bad, but his emotion and conviction in the moment are completely evident. It's a moving, powerful piece of history.