Many of us think of the 4th of July as the official beginning of our country. It’s recognized as such because that is the date when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. On these days we should reserve some time to remember not only our forefathers who risked their lives in the cause of freedom but also time to appreciate those who fought for the concepts and ideals espoused in the Declaration of Independence.

The most recognized line in the Declaration states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. Scores of politicians stress their strong support for the ideals in those words but many fail when put to the test in defending these “inalienable rights.”

One such man who did step up to defend the rights of others as called for in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution was Colorado Gov. Ralph L. Carr. In 1942 Carr was in his second term as governor (governors served two year terms at that time) and he was thought of highly enough by some in the Republican Party to have been considered as a vice presidential candidate in 1940. Carr declined that offer and instead ran for a second term as governor that same year.

Carr was an effective governor who managed to eliminate a state budget deficit he inherited. He also played a key role in reorganizing Colorado’s state government to make it more efficient. His tenure as governor is viewed as a period of sound and responsible governance, characterized by his strong commitment to public service and his passion for the principles and ideas upon which this nation was founded.

However, Carr’s achievements as governor pale in comparison to his actions in the area of civil rights during World War II. On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. declared war the next day. With the declaration of war, fear and hysteria gripped the country, and many politicians and the public were concerned that a fifth column would arise consisting of individuals who had emigrated from Japan, Italy, and Germany but were still loyal to their nations of nationality.

In response, President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which resulted in the forced removal of approximately 112,000 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast to relocation centers in the heart of the nation. These relocation centers were essentially internment camps that had armed guards, fences, and other elements more suited to a prison. Those relocated Japanese Americans were stripped of their liberties and livelihoods, with most losing everything they owned, including their homes.

At that time, Carr was the only major elected official who opposed the Executive Order. Not one other governor or prominent politician spoke in opposition. Even those who believed that the order was unconstitutional, as it deprived U.S. citizens of their rights based solely on their racial background, did not speak up for fear of being viewed as not supporting the president after Pearl Harbor.

Carr’s position was grounded in his view that the Constitution applied to all Americans and that the words in it were intended for all citizens of the US. He believed that the government could not limit the rights of any citizens based on their nationality and the bigotry associated with it.

Carr opposed the Executive Order despite the advice from key supporters and friends who feared that such a pronouncement would doom his political career. Carr observed that “We cannot test the degree of a man’s affection for his fellows or his devotion to his country by the birthplace of his grandfathers. All Americans had their origins beyond the border of the United States.”

After making this fateful decision, Ralph Carr faced substantial criticism from within and outside the state. He was accused of allowing a “fifth column” to be created where Japanese-Americans would act as saboteurs and undermine the country. Carr recognized that this was ridiculous. He knew that many Japanese Americans had never been to Japan or could even speak Japanese. Further, he knew many who were as patriotic as any citizen in the country.

While Carr opposed the internment of Japanese-American citizens, he agreed that Colorado would accept its share of the evacuees. Carr is thought to have done this to ensure that those individuals would be treated with the respect and dignity that they deserved. He was quoted as saying, “The Japanese are protected by the same Constitution that protects us. An American citizen of Japanese descent has the same rights as any other citizen. If you harm them, you must first harm me.”

Sadly, Carr’s advisers were correct in their prediction that his political career was over. Carr even found his own Republican Party unwilling to nominate him for another term as governor in 1942. So instead, Carr ran for the Senate but lost narrowly despite it being a banner year for Republicans in Colorado.

It’s difficult to know how Carr’s political life may have been different if he had not made his fateful but principled decision. Throughout his life, Carr indicated that he never regretted his decision and history would bear him out. In hindsight, Carr was correct that history would view his position as being the right one. His thoughts on this matter were quaintly captured in a letter that he wrote to a Colorado citizen who questioned his decision. He wrote that his action was “the American thing… the patriotic thing… the decent thing… to do.”

Greg Fulton is the president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, which represents over 600 companies directly involved in, and affiliated with trucking in Colorado.