Exoneration at Last: US Navy Clears 256 Black Sailors After 79 Years

The US Navy has officially exonerated 256 Black sailors who were unjustly punished nearly eight decades ago following a devastating explosion at the Port Chicago naval weapons station. This ground-breaking decision arrives on the 80th anniversary of the tragedy, which exposed deep-rooted racial inequalities within the segregated military ranks of the time.

The catastrophic event took place on July 17, 1944, when munitions being loaded onto a cargo ship detonated, triggering secondary explosions that killed 320 sailors and civilians—almost 75% of whom were Black. In the aftermath, surviving Black sailors were forced to clear the blast site while white officers were granted leave.

The sailors later faced severe punishments, including court-martial and imprisonment, for demanding improved safety training before returning to work under dangerous conditions. The exoneration, signed by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, overturns these unjust convictions and acknowledges the sailors' bravery and resilience.

(With inputs from agencies.)