The civil liberties symposium kicked off today at the college of southern Idaho and a part of the history discussed at this years event has ties to the Magic Valley.
Geoffrey Stone says, "The internment of Japanese Americans was one of the great tragedies of American history."
It’s an issue that hits close to home and has history here in the magic valley with many Japanese American being brought to the Internment Camp in Jerome County.
Stone says, "It's important to remember that the United States took almost 120 thousand men, women and children without incident of any wrong doing solely because of their national ancestry and locked them in camps for years."
Officials say the first to arrive at the camp found it still under construction with no sewage or hot running water.
Many historians believe the internment of Japanese Americans is a mark in our history that many should learn about.
That’s why a group known as friends of Minidoka was formed to educate and uphold the legacy of those interned in the camp.
This year they are apart of a symposium that talks about civil liberties and the media.
But how exactly did media play a role during this time period?
Stone says, "the media during that time period as well as other episodes has been intimidated and has been willing to give the government the benefit of the doubt and to may be uneasy to state what might be unpopular news."
But according to Geoffery Stone who was a keynote speaker at today’s event with media holding back vital information it can have damaging consequences.
That’s why he believes it needs to change in the future, and even though media has gotten better with their information he says they are still holding back.
Sarah Casey kmvt news.