Ava Makiya

2026 Student Art Contest: Junior Division, First Place

8th Grade – Gaithersburg Middle School, Gaithersburg, MD

We are living in unpredictable times where the constitution and the rule of law are beingchallenged. Immigrants, universities, companies and marginalized communities often face unequal treatment, making it essential to ask what seeking justice truly means. Minoru Yasui's legacy project provides strong examples of how rule of law must protect everyone equally.

Minoru Yasui believed that the constitution has value when applied to everyone. During world war Il, he deliberately broke curfew imposed on Japanese Americans, exposing how the government violated its own laws based on targeting race. His actions showed that seeking justice sometimes requires challenging unjust laws to uphold the true meaning of rule of law.

My art piece reflects this belief. Lady Justice shows structure and balance within my artwork,representing the rule of law, creating fairness and stability, as well as the paper cranesrepresenting peace and hope, colors of strength and resilience. The lanterns, symbols of guidance and community. Blank spaces for failed and silencing voices, light breaking through spaces representing accountability and hope. Through this piece, I show that the rule of law is not automatic - it must be defended, just as Yasui did.

This project is deeply personal to me because I am half Okinawan. Learning aboutMinoru Yasui connects my family's history to a larger national story of injustice and resilience.Knowing that people like Yasui stood for rights that could have been taken from families like mine makes his story feel intimate and real, not distant history.My identity shapes how I understand Yasui's legacy. His courage represents both resilience and the responsibility to challenge injustice so future generations are protected. Through art and writing, I hope to honor Minoru Yasui by showing that seeking justice for all is the truest way to uphold rule of law and preserve democracy.