I have had an incredible couple of days attending events for the 80th anniversary of the Port Chicago disaster. On Friday I went to what was supposed to be an exoneration workshop put on by the CCCBA where community members could learn about how they can support efforts to exonerate the 256 African-American men who had been court-martialed after the disaster. They ended up having to modify the workshop because on Wednesday, the actual 80th anniversary of the disaster, the secretary of the Navy announced that he had signed an exoneration of all 256 men. This fantastic news came as a complete surprise to the many individuals and groups who had been fighting for exoneration for decades.
The workshop went on as planned with different panels, but this time they focus was on talking about what their groups had done toward the exoneration effort. It was incredible to be able to hear from so many people about Port Chicago and the impact it had on them and their communities and what they have done to help bring justice. From community grassroot activists to faith leaders, from lawyers to family members they all shared their stories. It was such an emotional and important moment. You could see that many of the people who have been involved in these efforts for a long time had spent much time crying, and still seemed to be in shock.
That evening I went to a play called The Port Chicago 50 that portrayed how the men were treated before the disaster, immediately afterwards and throughout the trial. Seated in the area in front of the stage were many family members of those who had been killed in the disaster or convicted of mutiny. The actors portrayed some of actual people involved and afterwards, when the Director and cast members were on stage, one of the family members in the audience handed something to the Director. He then turned to the audience and said that his father was one of the people depicted in the play and he wanted the actor who played him to read from what he had just given the Director. The actor read out a name and number, and we realized it was his father’s dog tags.
It was wonderful to attend the 80th anniversary commemoration ceremony which not only honored the men but also celebrated those who fought for justice to be served and looked forward to what still needed to be done. What an incredible way to observe and respect the contributions of those who died in the disaster, those who were dishonored and those who have been fighting for them for decades. To hear the Secretary of the Navy admit to this significant and shameful part of our past and be choked up about being able to correct that wrong. I hope this opens doors to other similar wrongs being corrected, and prevented in the future. I am beyond proud that people I know and respect have been part of that effort (some of them a huge part in it) and I was able to help in a small way by offering support, resources and encouragement so that others could use their talents and passions and drive to move mountains and make change.
Now I think even more about the importance of making sure children in schools in Contra Costa, California and across the US are aware of what happened in Port Chicago, not only what it meant for the men who were killed and their families or the men who were court-martialed and their families, but what it meant for our country. Not only the wrongs that arose from it, but that it led to positive changes like desegregation of the armed forces and the civil rights movement. It really showed how grassroots efforts of many to keep pushing for years, bending ears, getting people to keep bringing it up led to victory. Barbara Lee, George Miller, Barbara Boxer, Mark Desaulnier all used their influence to call attention to this injustice.
Thurgood Marshall’s son and Eleanor Roosevelt’s great-granddaughter were on hand to witness not only the signing of the exoneration order, but also the commemoration event. Their relatives tried to help those very young, very brave men who stood up and refused to do something they knew was wrong, something that would continue to put others lives in danger. And they were punished for it, many of them didn’t talk about it for decades because of the shame of their convictions, even though they had done the right thing, the only thing they could do they would ever have affected any change. Those men are the heroes, they are who we were clapping for when we celebrated those who fought for their complete exoneration. Their actions led to the desegregation of the armed forces and gave more fuel to foundation of the civil rights movement. We need to learn and be reminded about the shameful acts from our history. To also do what we can to correct these injustices and make changes so that when we see wrongs happening, they can be stopped and corrected. As I heard many people add at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance ‘SOMEDAY’