256 black sailors who had been convicted for refusing to handle ammunition after a deadly explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in 1944 were fully exonerated by Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro. The explosion on July 17, 1944, resulted in 320 deaths and around 400 injuries. After the incident, 258 black sailors refused to resume work due to safety concerns, leading to their convictions in military trials.
Two of the convictions had been set aside previously, and on the 80th anniversary of the explosion, Mr. Del Toro signed orders exonerating the remaining 256 sailors. This decision marked the end of a long battle for justice for these sailors and their families.
The sailors were threatened with disciplinary action if they did not resume handling ammunition, with 208 eventually complying and facing convictions. The remaining 50 sailors, known as the “Port Chicago 50,” were charged with mutiny and received harsh sentences in a mass general court-martial.
Decades later, the Navy acknowledged errors in the original trials and dismissed the charges against the sailors. The exoneration by Mr. Del Toro bypassed the question of pardons, focusing on the procedural errors and lack of legal counsel during the trials. The Navy also highlighted that the trials were conducted before the completion of the inquiry into the explosion.
The Navy stated that the investigation would have benefited the defendants by offering 19 recommendations for enhancing ammunition loading procedures.
âAlthough the Port Chicago 50, along with the numerous individuals who supported them, are no longer with us, their narrative continues to inspire, showcasing the lasting impact of bravery and the relentless pursuit of fairness,â Mr. Del Toro remarked.
