On July 17, 1944, the
Port Chicago disaster occurred in the San Francisco Bay area. It was the largest mainland explosion during World War II, instantly killing 320 and injuring 390, most of whom were young enlisted black sailors. The number of black men killed and injured accounted for 15% of all black naval casualties during World War II. The subsequent refusal of fifty of the remaining sailors to resume loading munitions until their safety was assured resulted in one of the most significant mutiny trials in U.S. history. Their cause was supported by Eleanor Roosevelt and Thurgood Marshall, and ultimately led to desegregation of the Navy and later the entire military. A ceremony commemorating the explosion is held annually by the National Park Service.
On May 7, 2013, a free screening of
The Port Chicago Mutiny: The Real Story (1999) will take place at Bingham McCutchen LLP, 3 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This documentary was produced and directed by
Ron Frank and is narrated by Louis Gossett, Jr. There will also be an introductory panel discussion about the disaster and racial justice in the military. The evening is being sponsored by the
Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial,
Bingham McCutchen LLP, and the
Equal Justice Society.
Registration is available through
Eventbrite.
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