Navy Exonerates 258 Black Sailors Convicted After 1944 Port Chicago Explosion

Secretary Del Toro announces full exoneration at 80th anniversary commemoration, correcting a historic injustice.

The 1944 explosion at Port Chicago killed 320 men, many of whom were Black sailors.
258 Black servicemen were court-martialed and jailed for refusing to return to dangerous work conditions.
Family members and community activists have long fought for the exoneration of these sailors.
The Navy's failure to provide safety and clear explanations contributed to the sailors' resistance.
The exoneration is seen as a significant step in acknowledging and correcting past racial injustices.