The US Navy has officially exonerated 258 Black sailors in relation to courts-martial imposed following the deadly Port Chicago Disaster in July 1944. Eighty years on from the incident and its aftermath, both military and government officials are using this news to address the racist attitudes and views of the past.
Disaster struck Port Chicago, California, on July 17, 1944, when the SS E.A. Bryan suffered an onboard explosion while Black sailors were loading the Liberty ship with ammunition. The blast, which could be heard and felt for miles, caused 320 deaths (civilian and naval personnel). Another 400 individuals were injured, while the nearby town suffered damage.
In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, the African-American sailors, who’d complained of unsafe working conditions, were forced back to work, while their White superiors were given “hardship leave.”
A month later, they staged a mutiny and refused to work. The Navy ordered them to return to duty, with 208 of the 258 involved doing so. Despite their compliance, they received a Bad Conduct Discharge and the loss of three-month’s pay. Those who refused, the “Port Chicago 50,” were convicted of mutiny. Along with a Bad Conduct Discharge, they received 15-year prison sentences.
Following reviews, the first group had their discharges suspended and their salary forfeitures reduced. The Port Chicago 50 also had their discharges suspended, but they still had to serve prison sentences, which were reduced. By January 1946, the majority of the men involved in the mutiny had been released and given the chance to complete their contracts with the US Navy.
A subsequent review was conducted into the Port Chicago Disaster, which noted several issues with the courts-martial. According to a press release issued by the US Navy, the trials “occurred before the Navy’s Court of Inquiry report” had been completed. This, paired with a reflection on how the era’s racist stereotypes influenced what occurred, led to the exoneration of the 258 sailors.
“The dangers under which those sailors were performing their duties, loading those ammunition ships without the benefit of proper training or equipment,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in a statement given to CBS News. “Also being requested to load those ships as quickly as they possibly could without any sense of the dangers that itself would present, it’s just an injustice that, you know, is just wrong.”
He added in the Navy’s press release, “The Port Chicago 50, and the hundreds who stood with them, may not be with us today, but their story lives on, a testament to the enduring power of courage and the unwavering pursuit of justice. They stand as a beacon of hope, forever reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the fight for what’s right can and will prevail.”
Several government officials have also spoken about the exonerations.
President Joe Biden said in a statement, “Today’s announcement marks the end of a long and arduous journey for these Black Sailors and their families, who fought for a nation that denied them equal justice under law. May we remember their courage, sacrifice, and service to our Nation.”
In a separate statement, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin commented, “Today, the Department of Defense has moved to rectify an old injustice – and face up to a painful episode in our history. I am deeply grateful for all the people of conscience in the US Navy who have worked diligently to make this day possible, and to the advocates and family members who have pushed hard for so many decades to remedy this injustice.”
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Sadly, all the sailors who faced courts-martial in relation to the Port Chicago Disaster mutiny have since passed.