Standing in front of the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building is a memorial that represents a time when America allowed fear to control their actions.
This masterpiece done by Ruth Asawa depicts the struggles of over 100,000 Japanese American who were put in internment camps in response to war.
The double-sided artwork begins as immigrants arrive from the Taiyo Maru ship in pursuit of the American dream.
People are shown building their lives through farming or small business and children running freely.
With no knowledge that the wavy large barb wires going throughout the top of the memorial signifies that they are in no way free.
As you move throughout you begin to see businesses closing their doors, families strapping their bags on top of their cars and hordes of people being thrusted onto buses.
Flip to the other side and you see the American dream turn into a nightmare.
The houses are now huts that they themselves are forced to make.
Their freedom is fully taken as soldiers watch their every move from towers up above.
The barb wire across the top is now straight.
Families are given little and must resort to making beds out of hay.
Yet, despite their circumstances you see people playing baseball and volleyball and children making art.
On the bottom right you can see the Supreme Court gathering as they realize the injustice that was done.
However, the damage was already done.
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