To: Board of Supervisors
From: Shanelle Scales-Preston, District V Supervisor
Report Title: ADOPT Resolution to recognize July 17th as Port Chicago Remembrance Day, as recommended by Supervisor Scales-Preston.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution to recognize July 17th as Port Chicago Remembrance Day, as recommended by Supervisor Scales-Preston.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
BACKGROUND:
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine, located in Contra Costa County, was a critical hub for the U.S. Navy’s Pacific operations during World War II, where thousands of African American Sailors were exclusively assigned to the dangerous task of loading explosives onto cargo ships; and on the night of July 17, 1944, a catastrophic explosion resulted in the deadliest home front disaster of the war, killing 320 people and injuring 390 others, and inflicting widespread damage on the nearby town of Port Chicago, California.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
body
IN THE MATTER OF recognizing July 17th as Port Chicago Remembrance Day
WHEREAS, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, located in Contra Costa County, was a critical hub for the U.S. Navy’s Pacific operations during World War II, where thousands of African American Sailors were exclusively assigned to the dangerous task of loading explosives onto cargo ships; and on the night of July 17, 1944, a catastrophic explosion resulted in the deadliest home front disaster of the war, killing 320 people and injuring 390 others, and inflicting widespread damage on the nearby town of Port Chicago, California; and
WHEREAS, 258 surviving African American Sailors, citing unaddressed safety concerns, protested the order to resume loading ammunition, drawing national attention to racial discrimination and hazardous working conditions in the military, and fifty of those Sailors, known as the Port Chicago 50, were wrongfully charged and convicted of mutiny; and
WHEREAS, on July 17, 2024, following persistent advocacy by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, cities across the county, and other supporters, President Joe Biden authorized Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to exonerate the Port Chicago 50 and all 256 Sailors involved, affirming the injustice they suffered and recognizing their actions as a pivotal moment in civil rights and military history; and
WHEREAS, communities throughout Contra Costa County are united in honoring the legacy of the Port Chicago Sailors, and with the continued engagement of community partners like the Port Chicago Alliance and commemorative events such as Port Chicago Weekend, this legacy will be preserved and honored;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County hereby proclaims July 17th as Port Chicago Remembrance Day, an annual observance to honor the victims of the disaster, recognize the bravery and legacy of the Port Chicago Sailors, and educate future generations about this defining chapter in American history.