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Navy Exonerates Port Chicago 50 on 80th Anniversary of 1944 Explosion

Jul 17, 2024, 06:02 PM

The U.S. Navy has exonerated 256 Black sailors who were unjustly punished in 1944 following the Port Chicago explosion, a deadly incident in California that killed hundreds of service members. The explosion, which occurred during World War II, exposed racist double standards within the then-segregated military ranks. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro stated that the court-martial contained significant legal errors, rendering them fundamentally unfair. The sailors had been charged with mutiny and disobeying orders, marking the largest mutiny in U.S. Navy history. This exoneration, announced on the 80th anniversary of the disaster, comes as part of a broader effort to recognize the heroism and courage of Black sailors and rectify historical wrongs. The group of sailors, known as the Port Chicago 50, are now formally cleared of wrongdoing.