DATE:
October 3, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
April Richardson, City Clerk
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville To Support Local, State, And Federal Efforts To Exonerate The Port Chicago 50 Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution supporting the exoneration of The Port Chicago 50.
Background
At the September 26, 2023 City Council meeting, Mayor Bauters requested and received majority support for a resolution supporting the exoneration of the Port Chicago 50.
Discussion
On July 17, 1944, the deadliest home front disaster of World War II took place when an explosion occurred at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine killing 320 men, 202 of whom were African Americans. Three hundred and ninety men were wounded; 233 were African Americans. Port Chicago Naval Magazine was racially segregated and all sailors loading munitions at the time of the explosion were African American.
The surviving sailors were entitled to standard survivors’ leave but were denied leave and ordered to clean up after the disaster. Two hundred fifty-eight ammunition handlers engaged in a peaceful work stoppage rather than return under the same unsafe working conditions, and fifty of these men were unlawfully charged with mutiny, prosecuted as guilty and sentenced to prison. Three weeks after the work stoppage, a Naval Court of Inquiry report confirmed working conditions and practices enforced by Port Chicago leadership were in violation of Naval safety regulations and federal safety code.
The actions of the sailors, the public mutiny trial, and public advocacy from their champion Thurgood Marshall, initiated the desegregation of the Navy in February 1946. There have been several attempts over the years to appeal the sentencing decision of the Port Chicago 50 and Naval historians now recognize that their actions potentially saved lives and changed the Navy for the better. This resolution supports the many local, state, and federal efforts to exonerate the Port Chicago 50.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact.
Staff Communication with the Public
This item was requested by Mayor Bauters at the September 26, 2023, City Council meeting.
Conflict of Interest
There is no conflict of interest.
PREPARED BY: April Richardson, City Clerk
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Supporting Exoneration of The Port Chicago 50
City Council Meeting | October 3, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM