In a historic move acknowledging systemic racism, the US military has overturned the century-old court-martial convictions of 110 African-American soldiers, including 19 who were executed. This decision comes after a thorough review by the Army’s Military Records Correction Board, which concluded that these soldiers were treated unfairly because of their race and did not receive fair trials.
The Army’s decision restores the service records of these soldiers, marking them as honorably terminated. This also makes their descendants eligible for military benefits. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth stated, “By setting aside their convictions and granting honorable discharges, the Army is acknowledging past mistakes and setting the rules.”
The reversal comes amid contentious debates about race and history in the United States, with right-wing politicians and parents pushing to ban books dealing with race and slavery from schools, and the Supreme Court USA Repeals Affirmative Action Policies Aimed at Promoting Race. equality in access to university.
The overturned convictions were the result of the Houston riots of August 23, 1917. This violent outbreak followed months of racist taunts against black soldiers in the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers . That day, black soldiers guarding military property were subjected to racial slurs and physical attacks. Around 100 black soldiers marched into the city to help them, sparking violence that claimed 19 lives.
Army courts-martial later convicted 110 black soldiers, including 19 who were sentenced to death. Historians have since determined that the process contained “numerous irregularities.” The review board found these court-martial cases so fundamentally unfair that all convictions must be set aside.
The mass execution of 19 soldiers remains the largest in US military history. The first group of men were secretly hanged on the day of the sentence. The convictions were overturned after Texas Southern Law School asked the Army to review the cases, prompting retired officers to plead for clemency for the 110 soldiers.
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