The Georgia NAACP joins in celebration with the NAACP Armed Services and Veterans Committee as the Army overturns the convictions of 110 Black soldiers accused of mutiny, assault, and murder in the aftermath of the 1917 "Houston Riot." This deadly incident, fueled by racial tension in Jim Crow Texas, unfolded when over 100 troops marched from their camp into the city in response to the police pistol-whipping and shooting of a Black corporal.
Marked as the largest trial in military history, the proceedings led to over 60 life sentences and 19 hangings of Black soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, for mutiny. The initial 13 hangings represented the largest mass execution of American soldiers by the U.S. Army to date.
During a ceremony at the Buffalo Soldier Museum in Houston on Monday, Army officials disclosed that, following the discovery of numerous "irregularities" in the charges, the convictions were nullified. Consequently, the service members' records will be amended to reflect honorable discharges. National Board member and Georgia NAACP Administrator Ed DuBose stated “this is a huge step toward repair and reconciliation for Black Veterans and the Army. It was an honor to witness this historical moment.“
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