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On the night of July 17, 1944, an explosion with nearly the
force of an atomic bomb ripped through the Port Chicago Naval
Magazine north of San Francisco, destroying two ships and a
train and killing 320 people - most of whom were Black sailors
loading weapons on ships.
After the explosion, white sailors were given leave while the
Black sailors had to return to handling ammunition without
proper training or equipment.
When the sailors refused to load the ships, the Navy launched
the largest mutiny trial in its history.
Some 258 were court-martialed and the ultimate conviction of 50
of the men of mutiny became a public controversy, setting off
accusations of injustice and racism in the military.
"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," said U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro on the
explosion's anniversary. "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."
The Navy said that its general counsel found that there were
"significant legal errors" during the courts-martial, including
denial of meaningful right to counsel.
"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,"
President Joe Biden said in a statement.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Rod
Nickel)
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