Denny Yasuhara, former leader of the Japanese American Citizens League, died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Spokane, Wash., on Wednesday, his family said Friday. He was 76.
Yasuhara, a native of Seattle, pursued the U.S. government to accept responsibility for the detention of those with Japanese ancestry in camps in the United States during World War II. He and his family were among those imprisoned.
He worked toward the signing of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act, which stipulated compensation and a formal apology from the U.S. government to those of Japanese descent who were detained.
Yasuhara was the representative of the JACL between 1994 and 1996 and was active in promoting the protection of the rights of Asian residents of the U.S.