CA AJR33

California Legislature urges recognition that the 1944 trial and conviction of 50 African American sailors for mutiny at Port Chicago Naval Magazine was wrongfully pursued due to racial prejudice.

Requests Congress publicly exonerate the 50 sailors convicted in connection with the July 17, 1944 explosion that killed 320 people, with 435 of the 710 casualties being African American.

Notes the sailors refused to resume ammunition loading duties after the disaster due to inadequate training and unsafe practices, which the Navy later acknowledged were racially motivated assignments.

Urges Congress to retroactively convert the general discharges granted to the 50 sailors in 1946 to honorable discharges.

Directs the Assembly Chief Clerk to transmit copies of the resolution to the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader, and California members of Congress.