Advocates Push to Pardon 110 Black Soldiers Guilty in 1917 Houston Riots

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By ShaCamree Gowdy Published: December 21, 2021

Advocates Push to Pardon 110 Black Soldiers Guilty in 1917 Houston Riots

Photograph shows a group portrait of soldiers from the Company I, 24th Infantry regiment in uniform. Advocates are seeking full clemency for 110 of the Black soldiers, who were sent to Camp Logan and eventually sentenced following the 1917 riots in Houston.

In Summary

A group of legal experts, advocates and supporters are seeking full clemency for 110 Black soldiers sentenced during the 1917 riots in Houston.

The South Texas College of Law Houston, the local NAACP chapter, advocates and supporters plan to push for the pardon of 110 Black soldiers convicted of mutiny and rioting at Camp Logan in 1917, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The soldiers were hanged, executed or sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty in the 1917 riots, which occurred after months of racial tensions toward the all-Black Third Battalion of the United States Army’s 24th Infantry Regiment.

According to The Guardian, a total of 118 soldiers were put on the stand, resulting in the largest murder trial in United States history.

Soldiers from the Third Battalion were sent to Houston to protect Camp Logan, which was being built to train white soldiers transferring to France during World War I.

On Aug. 23, 1917, police officers raided a half-dressed woman’s home, suspecting her of hiding a wanted man. A soldier from the 24th Infantry was pistol whipped as he went to get clothes for the woman, and a military police officer was beaten twice and shot for questioning his whereabouts.

More than 150 soldiers marched to the old Black freemen town district and opened fire on many homes following claims the military officer was killed, per the Houston Chronicle. It is not believed the first shot came from the 24th Infantry.

Five local police officers were killed, and four Black soldiers and 15 white civilians died.

Advocates have pointed out that several of the soldiers violated orders and left camp armed and ready to retaliate, but they raise concerns on the swift nature of the initial court-martial and difficulty of local witnesses to identify which soldiers were guilty.

“It shouldn’t take 102 years to correct an injustice,” said Houston Democratic Rep. Al Green, per the Houston Chronicle. “But it also means that we are sending a message, that regardless as to how long it takes, justice will prevail.”