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National Leaders Reflect on Historic Port Chicago Decision


The exoneration of the Port Chicago Sailors marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for racial justice and historical accountability. Nearly 80 years after their wrongful courts-martial, the African American Sailors of Port Chicago have finally received long-overdue recognition for their bravery in standing against unsafe and discriminatory conditions.

Following the announcement, leaders across the country, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, have weighed in on the significance of this decision, acknowledging it as a critical step in confronting systemic injustice and honoring the legacy of those who served at Port Chicago.

Here's what they had to say:

President Joe Biden

July 17, 2024

"Today, the U.S. Navy is righting an historic wrong by announcing the exoneration of 258 Black Sailors who were unjustly tried and convicted of mutiny and disobeying orders following the tragic explosion at Port Chicago, California nearly 80 years ago. At the time, future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall represented the 'Port Chicago 50' in their appeal of their courts-martial convictions, writing that, “justice can only be done in this case by a complete reversal of findings.” With this action, we are answering that call.

"After conducting a careful and deliberative review, the U.S. Navy has determined that the courts-martials for all 258 Black Sailors were fundamentally unfair, plagued by legal errors, and tainted by racial discrimination. 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 all remember their courage, sacrifice, and service to our Nation."

Vice President Kamala Harris

July 17, 2024

"Today, the Secretary of the Navy exonerated 258 Black Sailors who were court-martialed after the disaster in Port Chicago, California in 1944.

"In the wake of this tragedy, they refused orders to return to dangerous work while white sailors were granted leave, exposing systemic inequities and building momentum for the desegregation of the Armed Forces.

"Today's action has righted an historic wrong. These Sailors pushed our nation toward dignity, respect, and equality for all."

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

July 17, 2024

"Today, the Department of Defense has moved to rectify an old injustice-and face up to a painful episode in our own history.

"I applaud the Secretary of the Navy's decision to exonerate 258 Black Sailors who were unjustly court-martialed in the wake of the devastating explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California, which killed 320 Sailors on July 17, 1944. After the blast, these 258 Sailors refused to keep loading munitions in the same unsafe and inhumane conditions that contributed to the catastrophe. Eighty years later, we recognize that those 258 Sailors were right, and the segregated Navy that unnecessarily risked their lives was wrong.

"The NAACP, Thurgood Marshall, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others recognized the case as a travesty at the time. The Department of Defense must continue to learn from our past, and today's decision reflects our commitment to reckoning with our history-even when it is painful.

"I am deeply grateful for all the people of conscience in the U.S. 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.

"We honor the memory of the 320 dedicated Americans who lost their lives in the Port Chicago explosion, and we honor the service of the 258 brave Americans who refused afterward to bend to racist and cruel treatment. The Department of Defense must always ensure that our Service members, our military families, and our civilian employees are treated with fairness and dignity, especially within our military justice systems."

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro

July 17, 2024

"Thanks to the work of my General Counsel, Mr. Sean Coffey, and his military assistant Captain Justin Pilling, I have made the decision to set aside the court martial results of all Sailors convicted as part of the Port Chicago incident.

"This action is about more than correcting the historical record. It is a resounding affirmation of the values we, as Americans, hold dear—justice, equality, and the right to a safe workplace.

"The legacy of the Port Chicago Sailors should inspire us all to be more vigilant, to speak truth to power, and to never give up on the pursuit of liberty and justice.

"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."

General Counsel of the Department of the Navy
John P. ("Sean") Coffey

July 19, 2024

"I'm very proud that the Navy finally got to the right place. It took far too long, but I am so blessed, motivated, and inspired by the example [advocates] have set of what Americans can do when they set their minds to it. You kept at it, you never gave up faith... and we finally heard you."

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