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Navy Exonerates 256 Black Sailors Unjustly Punished in 1944 Port Chicago Explosion During WWII

Jul 17, 2024, 05:30 PM

The U.S. Navy has exonerated 256 Black sailors who were unjustly punished in 1944 following the Port Chicago explosion, a catastrophic event that killed hundreds of service members and exposed racist double standards within the then-segregated military ranks during World War II. The explosion, which occurred in the Bay Area, led to the largest mutiny trial in U.S. history. On the 80th anniversary of the disaster, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro highlighted significant legal errors in the court-martial proceedings, rendering them fundamentally unfair. The move to exonerate these sailors, known as the Port Chicago 50, is part of a broader effort to rectify historical injustices and recognize the heroism and courage of the Black sailors involved.