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Press Release

United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner’s Statement on the Passing of Former U.S. Marshal Jerry Enomoto

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California

United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner released the following statement today on the passing of Retired U.S. Marshal and prominent civil rights leader Jerry Enomoto:

“With the passing of Retired U.S. Marshal Jerry Enomoto, this region has lost a courageous advocate for social justice and equal opportunity. Despite living through one of the most shameful times in our history, as one of the thousands of Japanese-Americans interned during World War II, Jerry’s life was not defined by the adversity he faced, but by his advocacy for civil rights and peaceful progress. 

Jerry dedicating his life to the service of others, earning many ‘firsts,’ including being the first Asian American to receive a presidential appointment to the Office of United States Marshal. It was in this role that I first worked with Jerry, and I had the pleasure of collaborating with him often over the years on a variety of civil rights issues. In 2002, Jerry retired from his post as U.S. Marshal, but he continued to serve the Sacramento region through his chairmanship of the U.S. Attorney’s Greater Sacramento Hate Crimes Task Force, and his work as co-chair, along with his wife Dorothy, of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Event.

Jerry was one of Sacramento’s most honorable citizens, and his enduring legacy is in the countless lives he touched, and the next generation of civil rights leaders he helped to inspire.”

Updated January 19, 2016

Topic
Office and Personnel Updates