Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark DeSaulnier Commend U.S. Navy Exoneration of Port Chicago 50 on 80th Anniversary of Explosion
Washington, D.C. – Today, eighty years after the devastating explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, California on July 17, 1944, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) joined with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) to commend the U.S. Navy’s posthumous exoneration of the Port Chicago 50 – African American sailors who were wrongfully and discriminately charged with mutiny after the incident.
The harsh treatment they received, both in their work and in the courtroom, was reflective of the racial segregation present in the military at the time. Since coming to Congress 26 years ago, Congresswoman Lee has led the fight for justice for and exoneration of these sailors through legislation and work with the U.S. Navy and multiple Administrations, dating back to 2016. Last year, Representatives Lee, DeSaulnier and Garamendi introduced H.Con.Res.16, a resolution recognizing the victims of the Port Chicago explosion of July 17, 1994, the 79th anniversary of the greatest homeland loss of life of World War II, and exonerating the 50 African-American sailors unjustly court-martialed by the Navy.
"This is a monumental day for justice and for the families of the Port Chicago 50. I appreciate the Secretary of the Navy taking this crucial action to exonerate these courageous men who were unjustly court-martialed by the Navy following the explosion at Port Chicago. On the 80th anniversary of this tragic event, it’s fitting that these men are not only exonerated, but honored for their service to this country. I have been working on this issue with former Congressman George Miller and Congressman DeSaulnier since coming to Congress 26 years ago. This is long overdue,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
“After nearly a decade fighting for justice for the Port Chicago 50, I commend the U.S. Navy and thank Navy Secretary Del Toro for exonerating these heroes and President Biden for his support. Today our nation stands one step closer to fulfilling its founding promise of equality and justice for all,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I thank Rev. Diana McDaniel and the Friends of the Port Chicago 50, Congressman George Miller and John Lawrence, his then Chief of Staff, and Representatives Barbara Lee and John Garamendi for their efforts to help accomplish this monumental feat.”
“I thank Navy Secretary Del Toro for his exhaustive review and exonerating the Port Chicago 50, correcting 80 years of injustice. The Port Chicago 50 were ordered to their deaths in the summer of 1944, nearly four years before President Truman signed the executive order formally banning racial segregation in the American military. Now, eighty years later, the families of the Port Chicago 50 convicted for mutinying against an order that should never have been given finally have closure. Their full exoneration brings a sense of justice that has been long overdue. As Port Chicago’s Congressman, I am proud to stand with the families of these servicemen and my colleagues, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier and Barbara Lee, in celebrating this historic moment,” said Congressman John Garamendi.
“When I learned of the exoneration I burst into tears, this has been a long-time coming. It is so sad that Robert Allen and the PC 50 and the sailors who were penalized are not with us to celebrate. I am so grateful to the Biden administration, to the Secretary of the Navy, to our Champions Rep. DeSaulnier and former Congressman George Miller. So many people have worked on this - a major wrong has been righted,” said Reverend Diana McDaniel, President of The Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that ‘the arc of The Moral Universe is long but it bends towards justice,’ and today’s action by President Biden and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro at long last corrects a grievous historical wrong,” said former Congressman George Miller. “I salute colleagues in Congress, state and local government and many others, especially Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, for persisting in this long battle to clear the names of the Port Chicago 50. Special recognition is also due to Rev. Diana McDaniel of the Friends of Port Chicago, Thurgood Marshall, Jr., and the late historian Robert Allen, who have played crucial roles in telling the Port Chicago story and in demanding justice.”
After experiencing segregation in the Navy during World War II, 320 men, including 202 African American sailors, were killed and almost 400 others were injured when a cargo vessel exploded as munitions were being loading onto ships. This incident accounted for more than 15 percent of all African American Naval casualties during WWII and was the deadliest home front disaster during the war. While White officers were given time off, African American sailors were forced to return to the same unsafe working conditions that killed their colleagues, having never been properly trained in safe munitions loading and handling practices. When 50 of these men understandably refused, they were discriminately charged and convicted of mutiny.