Port Chicago Weekend honors 80th Anniversary of WWII Port Chicago disaster

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (July 18, 2024) — July 17, 2024 marked the 80th anniversary of the Port Chicago Disaster. An explosion of munitions at the naval magazine at Port Chicago killed 320 people, and injured about 400 people. It also destroyed two cargo ships.

Over the next four days, July 18-21, the nonprofit Port Chicago Alliance will host “Port Chicago Weekend.” This four-day festival of music, art, cuisine, theater, exhibits, and entertainment spans several cities across the Bay Area.

Organizers have scheduled several events throughout the region, including two in Concord.

Sailors Exonerated

Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Hon. Carlos Del Toro, announced the full exoneration of the remaining 256 defendants of the 1944 Port Chicago courts-martial.

Following the 1944 explosion, leadership ordered African-American Sailors back to work despite clarity on the explosions or further safety training. In protest, 258 African-American Sailors refused to resume ammunition handling. Following threats of disciplinary action, 208 returned to work. However, 50 Sailors (the “Port Chicago 50”) continued to refuse and were charged with mutiny. The Navy court-marshaled all 258.

“The Port Chicago 50, and the hundreds who stood with them, may not be with us today, but their story lives on, a testament to the enduring power of courage and the unwavering pursuit of justice,” said Secretary Del Toro. “They stand as a beacon of hope, forever reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the fight for what’s right can and will prevail.”

For more details on Port Chicago Weekend, click here.