WEBVTT 00:07.699 --> 00:09.921 Greetings . I'm Secretary of the Navy , 00:09.921 --> 00:12.399 Carlos Del Toro . 80 years ago , 00:12.409 --> 00:14.409 America is deeply entrenched in the 00:14.409 --> 00:16.969 second world war . The nation mobilizes 00:16.979 --> 00:19.729 industrial might and American spirit to 00:19.739 --> 00:21.739 back the war effort and support our 00:21.739 --> 00:23.739 service members fighting overseas . 00:23.760 --> 00:25.700 Port Chicago Naval Magazine . 00:25.709 --> 00:27.739 Approximately 25 miles from San 00:27.750 --> 00:29.860 Francisco , California served as a 00:29.870 --> 00:31.814 critical role in supporting combat 00:31.814 --> 00:34.029 operations in the Pacific Theater on 00:34.040 --> 00:37.220 the evening of July 17th , 1944 00:37.229 --> 00:39.020 munitions being loaded onto the 00:39.029 --> 00:42.319 steamship E A Brian detonated , killing 00:42.330 --> 00:45.000 320 sailors , coast guardsmen , 00:45.009 --> 00:47.569 civilians and others and injuring an 00:47.580 --> 00:51.380 additional 390 individuals . Over 200 00:51.389 --> 00:53.389 of these fallen heroes were African 00:53.389 --> 00:55.919 American sailors . Many of their bodies 00:55.930 --> 00:58.041 regretfully torn to pieces because of 00:58.041 --> 01:02.020 the explosion . 258 surviving sailors 01:02.380 --> 01:04.860 traumatized by the blast , unsafe 01:04.870 --> 01:07.309 working conditions . A lack of training 01:07.500 --> 01:09.690 and even fearful for their lives were 01:09.699 --> 01:11.588 charged with refusing to continue 01:11.588 --> 01:14.099 loading munitions under said conditions . 01:14.260 --> 01:17.150 This act was known as the Port Chicago 01:17.160 --> 01:21.080 mutiny . Then as now every sailor 01:21.089 --> 01:22.980 serving at the port Chicago naval 01:22.989 --> 01:25.730 magazine had chosen to serve . But the 01:25.739 --> 01:28.220 subsequent general and special courts 01:28.230 --> 01:31.800 martial labeled 258 of these sailors as 01:31.809 --> 01:34.269 criminals . But as determined by my 01:34.279 --> 01:36.500 office of General Counsel , these 01:36.510 --> 01:39.139 courts martial contained significant 01:39.150 --> 01:40.928 legal errors that rendered them 01:40.928 --> 01:44.680 fundamentally unfair . Yet for 01:44.690 --> 01:47.319 80 years , the unjust decisions endured . 01:47.599 --> 01:50.440 Now I am writing a tremendous wrong 01:50.449 --> 01:53.319 which has haunted so many for so long . 01:53.690 --> 01:55.912 The Secretary of the Navy , I have made 01:55.912 --> 01:58.360 the decision inherent within my 01:58.370 --> 02:00.481 authorities dating to the laws of the 02:00.481 --> 02:03.230 time to set aside the courts martial 02:03.239 --> 02:05.989 results of all jailers convicted as 02:06.000 --> 02:08.039 part of the Port Chicago incident . 02:08.639 --> 02:10.850 This decision clears their names , 02:11.089 --> 02:13.779 restores their honor and acknowledges 02:13.789 --> 02:16.479 the courage they displayed in the face 02:16.490 --> 02:19.259 of immense danger . But this action is 02:19.270 --> 02:21.240 about more than just correcting a 02:21.250 --> 02:23.860 historical record . It is a resounding 02:23.869 --> 02:26.020 affirmation of the values that we as 02:26.029 --> 02:29.119 Americans hold dear justice , 02:29.130 --> 02:31.619 equality and the right to a safe 02:31.630 --> 02:34.580 workplace . The Port Chicago 50 the 02:34.589 --> 02:36.811 hundreds who stood with them may not be 02:36.811 --> 02:39.410 with us today , but their story lives 02:39.419 --> 02:42.740 on a testament to the enduring power of 02:42.750 --> 02:45.210 courage and the unwavering pursuit of 02:45.220 --> 02:48.029 justice . May the story of Port Chicago 02:48.039 --> 02:50.309 serve as a permanent reminder of the 02:50.320 --> 02:53.130 power of collective action , the 02:53.139 --> 02:56.289 importance of historical truth and the 02:56.300 --> 02:59.610 enduring promise of a more just America . 03:00.089 --> 03:02.089 Today , we celebrate a long awaited 03:02.089 --> 03:05.850 victory for justice itself . Thank you 03:05.860 --> 03:08.210 to all who have fought , served and 03:08.220 --> 03:10.164 sacrificed in our long and storied 03:10.164 --> 03:12.387 history of defending freedom around the 03:12.387 --> 03:14.910 world and to all the families who 03:14.919 --> 03:18.110 served and sacrificed along them . May 03:18.119 --> 03:21.309 this action today bring peace of mind 03:21.320 --> 03:24.119 to you and your loved ones . Thank you .