Home Contra Costa County Sen. Glazer Makes a Appeal to President Obama to Exonerate the Port Chicago 50

Sen. Glazer Makes a Appeal to President Obama to Exonerate the Port Chicago 50

by ECT

Walnut Creek, CA – Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, on Martin Luther King Day on Monday called on President Barack Obama to exonerate the Port Chicago 50, African American sailors wrongly convicted of mutiny in Concord, CA, during World War II.

He made the appeal at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church with the  Social Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County & Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center.

“As we celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King today, we are witnessing the end of President Barack Obama’s historic term in the White House as the first African-American president of the United States.

“In his final days, President Obama has taken important steps to ensure environmental protections, such as protecting the California coastline and environmental standards for fuels. President Obama also announced the designation of three civil rights sites as national monuments.

“While these are significant acts that will have great national impact, I am asking President Obama to take one final small but important step before he leaves the presidency: To take executive action to exonerate the 50 African American sailors – members of the group known as the “Port Chicago 50” – who were wrongfully convicted of mutiny following the tragic accident at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, CA, in 1944.

“Exonerating these men would restore honor to these 50 sailors, acknowledge the racism that led to their unjust convictions and correct a wrong. It would reflect the just and equal society that President Obama has strived to achieve in the spirit of Dr. King, and would be one final act of grace for the families of these United States sailors.”

Senator Glazer asked the congregation to tweet President Obama at @POTUS encouraging him to take action with #PortChicago50.

Background:

  • After an explosion at Port Chicago in Concord, CA that killed 320 men – most of whom were African-Americans naval seamen – other African-American seamen were ordered back to work loading munitions at the same location.
  • Two-hundred and fifty eight of these sailors refused the orders because working conditions remained unsafe and they had not been trained to handle munitions.
  • After being threatened with the death penalty, 208 of these men reluctantly returned to work. However, the remaining 50 were court-martialed and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
  • They were later discharged with honor, which shows that the U.S. Navy acknowledged the convictions were unjust.
  • Their convictions, however, were never rescinded and the “Port Chicago 50” would carry the mutiny charges until they died.

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1 comment

CC Jan 18, 2017 - 10:30 am

I agree, they should be pardoned for sure.

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