October 1, 2022 - WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND
Who is James Gayl Yamakawa and what is his political agenda as the founder of the Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative? The meaning of “Truth and Reconciliation” has its roots from Desmond Tutu's Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the end of apartheid in South Africa. The commission was formed to allow the victims to share their grievances of the horrific and inhumane treatment under the system of apartheid.
The objective process of Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission was to allow for forgiveness between the citizens and the government for the atrocities committed by the government and its agents. The families of missing people would come to the commission and tell their stories about the abuse, torture, execution, and disappearance of their family members. The government agencies who were responsible for torture, imprisonment and mass murder of South Africa's black citizens (or any political enemy of the government). This also included Caucasians and other races, which were given the opportunity to inform the commission of their crimes for the opportunity of forgiveness and amnesty. Its purpose was justice and peace in order to move on.
In the United States, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 1960's in America transcended Jim Crow laws, discrimination against African Americans and racial crimes to a level of peaceful coexistence following the passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Murders and crimes based on hate and bigotry, including gang violence continue to occur in the United States today (2022).
The City of Salisbury designated a Salisbury Lynching Memorial Task Force not for the purpose of teaching the community about local history, but to use its existence to draw a parallel to make lynching relevant today. For example, if someone who is a minority and does not comply with law enforcement, it can lead to a physical altercation. If harm is the result, then that altercation is considered a modern-day lynching and that concept is perpetuated to support anti-police movements, social uprising, and lawlessness. Yamakawa is also accompanied by activist Amber Green who is also part of this group (pictured below).
Pictured: Mayor Jake Day, Amber Green (next to Day) and James Yamakawa (back center door)
One of the political objectives on the Lynching Memorial Task Force page states:
“Ensure that discussions with community members include issues both past and present, and include topics such as economics, criminal justice, health, and education.” This is totally irrelevant to historical lynchings.
Racism exists across the globe, and comes in all shades of melanin. It is as old as Cain and Abel, and the problem exists in the heart of man – it cannot be legislated away. Ironically, the Anti-Racism Movement uses racism to counter alleged racism, therefore contradicting itself with no resolve. The Anti-Racism Movement is an ideological cult that blames and discriminates against Caucasians for everything related to racism, while creating exemptions for other races. The fact is, you cannot eradicate racism with racism.
As we acknowledge the sins of our forefathers, we must also accept personal responsibility for our own sins. For example, a son cannot blame his father for his own sin, nor can a father blame his son. God will deal with each person on the merits of his own actions. “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge” (Jeremiah 31:29–30). Those today who throw stones at the sons and daughters of an ancestor who may have done wrong must remember to forgive and not propagate hate. “So when they continued asking Jesus, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:7
In regard to Critical Race Theory (CRT), which is critical of race and categorizes people into groups of oppressors and the oppressed, CRT is integrated into the lesson plans in Wicomico County Public Schools. Current members of the Wicomico County Board of Education, some candidates, and political antagonists, such as James Yamakawa and Amber Green fully support CRT, which perpetuates racism and victimhood in schools.
The history of lynching in America suffered its worst year in 1892, with 69 whites and 161 blacks put to death at the hands of lynch mobs. The truth about lynching and lynch mobs is summarized in the table below to show that not only blacks were lynched as Yamakawa would lead you to believe.
Statistics provided by the Archives at Tuskegee Institute.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated April 2022.
Other races and ethnicities also faced acts of vigilante justice including Asians, Italians, Irish, Germans, Polish, and Native Americans, who were also lynched throughout the United States of America as a result of targeted racial discrimination.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Section 1 states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Those who carried out the atrocities of lynchings ignored the Fourteenth Amendment and robbed those that were lynched of their right of due process. Vigilante justice and taking it upon oneself to be judge, jury, and executioner of another is inhumane and lawless. We must always look to history as to not repeat the same mistakes twice. Although Yamakawa would say that's the sole purpose of the Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative, his actions demonstrate just the opposite. When one has to go to the extent as to use the word "Truth" in the name of a group, it's a red flag for deception right off the bat. It's intention can be to redefine or bend the real truth to declare what is to be true.
In summary, beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. The founder of The Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative and member of the Salisbury Lynching Memorial Task Force is not interested in truth, reconciliation, humanitarian issues, bipartisan politics, debate, the United States of America, or the Constitution. He is interested in Marxism and creating anarchy, as America to him is irredeemably racist, and white supremacy is found in everything.
Yamakawa has demonstrated that he hates America, is a self-proclaimed Marxist-Anarchist, and uses his group as a “digital lynch mob” to carry out digital lynchings on social media to label, judge, shun, assassinate character, and blacklist those that oppose his racist views. His page contains anti-Caucasian posts, labeling anyone a "White Supremacist" or "Racist," and declares "hate speech" for anyone who disagrees or opposes his radical views. He uses pictures and fabricated stories (without evidence) to create a false narrative. He does this with political hate propaganda to deceive the simple that don’t bother to fact-check.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been hijacked through Yamakawa's initiative, contradicting Tutu's intended purpose of justice, peace, and unity in order to move forward. Yamakawa’s objective is not to create unity, but rather division in the community. He is an active member of Antifa, member of the Black Liberation Movement (under the Black Nation of Islam) and serves on the Board of the Wicomico chapter of the NAACP. He also claims to be a representative of the ACLU for the Eastern Shore.
The WatchGuards designates James Yamakawa and The Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative as a hate group, as he acts as a political terrorist and race agitator.