( CNN ) A New Jersey auction house has removed items from its April 17 event after an uproar from the public . The items are crafts and artifacts made by Japanese-Americans confined to World War II internment camps . A grass-roots campaign of a change.org petition , a Facebook page , and mediation by `` Star Trek '' actor George Takei has resulted in Rago Arts and Auction Center agreeing to pull the items from the sale . `` There is an essential discussion to be had about the sale of historical items that are a legacy of man 's inhumanity to man . It extends beyond what is legal . It is something auction houses , galleries and dealers are faced with regularly , '' the auction house said . `` We hope this controversy will be the beginning of a discourse on this issue . '' Takei , who with his family spent time in one of the camps , thanked people for working to stop the sale . According to a comment on the Facebook page `` Japanese American History : NOT for Sale , '' he was working on the issue while on a trip to Australia . `` It took a few calls today here in the wee hours , and I 'll be issuing a formal statement later , but we can all celebrate a bit today at this news , '' he wrote . The auction house said 24 lots of an original collection of works of art and crafts were removed . During World War II , about 117,000 people of Japanese descent were forced to live in 10 internment camps . The government called them relocation centers . Many of the people who lived there and their descendants had another phrase for the facilities . They call them concentration camps . Two-thirds of the people who were ordered there were native born U.S. citizens , according to the National Archives . CNN affiliate KGO reported the items were given to historian Allen Eaton , who opposed internment camps . The items were inherited from the historian 's estate . Miriam Tucker , a partner with the auction house , said it had hoped the items would go to someone who cared about their historical meaning . `` For us , there could be no better resolution than for a suitable museum , foundation or members of the Japanese-American community with the means to preserve this collection to come forward and secure it for education , display and research , '' she said . KGO reported the people it talked to would like items returned to family members if possible and any other artifacts put in an exhibition . `` This was a gift and let the gift come full circle , '' said Judy Hamaguchi with the San Francisco Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League . She was referring to a letter the organization sent to the auction house . `` It should be returned as a gift . '' The lots have been packed away for now , said auction house partner David Rago in an email . `` Once the dust settles from this auction weekend ( 1,200 lots in three days ) we will work with a small group of people from the Japanese-American community who have identified themselves through this process as generous , informed , voices of reason , '' he wrote . He said a suitable institution is the best possible home and the auction house will work with the current owner to find the right place . The seller -- known in the auction business as the consignor -- has never been in a position where the items could be donated , Rago said . `` But the consignor , who has been a sensitive and dedicated custodian of this collection for over 35 years , has agreed this evening to work with Rago Auctions to secure appropriate placement of Eaton 's life work , '' he added .
The items were originally given to a historian who opposed the camps , CNN affiliate reports . Auctioneer hoped they would be bought by museum or someone who would donate them for historical appreciation . Japanese-Americans were furious about items from family members , others being sold .