BONUS EPISODE: Densho & Tsuru for Solidarity Lead Effort to Save National Archives in S.F. & Chicago

Feliks Banel's guests on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY are Naomi Ostwald Kawamura, Executive Director of Densho and Skyla Sachiko Tomine, National Organizing Fellow of Tsuru for Solidarity. Densho and Tsuru for Solidarity have paired up to lead a grassroots effort to halt the closure of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) branch in San Bruno, California. Densho and Tsuru for Solidarity convened a webinar earlier this week with nearly 100 participants. In this conversation for CASCADE OF HISTORY, recorded on the evening of Thursday, August 6, 2026, Ms. Kawamura and Ms. Tomine describe why their respective organizations are collaborating in this effort, what they hope to accomplish, and how people can get involved by contacting legislators and doing other grassroots outreach. CASCADE OF HISTORY has been covering this story since an internal NARA memo was leaked in late June 2026 with details that have still not yet been shared publicly by NARA. That memo describes the closure of NARA regional archival facilities in Chicago, Illinois and San Bruno, California, and imminent removal of archival materials from both sites. Densho NARA campaign website: https://densho.org/catalyst/densho-opposes-plans-to-close-national-archives-facilities-chicago-san-bruno/ Tsuru for Solidarity website: https://tsuruforsolidarity.org/ Previous episode with Grant Din of Save Our National Archives (SONA): https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-grant-din CASCADE OF HISTORY BONUS EPISODE from June 27, 2026 with more information: https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-nara-closure Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.