WHAT: Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, County Judge Lina Hidalgo, and others will announce that Commissioners Court will vote on a resolution that apologizes to the families of African American soldiers who were killed, beaten, and unjustly convicted during the 1917 Camp Logan Riot in Houston. The resolution, which Commissioner Ellis will present, states: “Harris County Commissioners Court apologizes to the families of all the soldiers who were killed, beaten, harassed, unfairly convicted, and denied their rights to due process and equal protection under the law while serving our country in Harris County.” The Camp Logan Riots took place in the summer of 1917 and involved the all-Black 3rd Battalion of the 24th Infantry Regiment, which was deployed in Houston to guard the construction of the Camp Logan training site, located in what is today Memorial Park.
WHO: Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis
County Judge Lina Hidalgo
Playwright Celeste Bedford Walker
Clyde Lemon, Houston NAACP Veterans Chair, who helped advocate for the pardons
Capt. Paul Matthews, founder of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 5, 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: 1001 Preston, Houston, TX 77002 | 1st floor in new Commissioners Court office
Commissioner Rodney Ellis and County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday, Dec. 5, will announce Commissioners Court will vote on a resolution to recognize the African American soldiers and apologize to their families for the miscarriage of justice during the 1917 Camp Logan Riots in Houston.
“… On behalf of our region, Harris County Commissioners Court apologizes to the families of all the soldiers who were killed, beaten, harassed, unfairly convicted, and denied their rights to due process and equal protection under the law while serving our country in Harris County,” states the resolution, which Commissioner Ellis will present.
“The Harris County Commissioners Court salutes the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment who served at Camp Logan and their courage in the face of extreme racism and injustice; commends the individuals who fought for their clemency,” it continues.
The U.S. Army recently set aside the convictions of 110 Black soldiers who were convicted after the riots. Nineteen were hanged, and 63 received life sentences.
“I am putting forward a resolution at Commissioners Court commending these families for their perseverance to shine a light on this injustice,” Commissioner Ellis said. “This resolution makes clear that moving forward, we will remain committed to creating a more equitable justice system for all and stand against the scourge of racism wherever it still exists.”
The all-Black 3rd Battalion of the 24th Infantry Regiment was deployed in Houston in 1917 to guard the construction of the Camp Logan training site, located in what is today Memorial Park. Under Houston’s Jim Crow system, the Black soldiers endured severe, nonstop racist harassment and violence from white residents, police officers, and fellow members of the military.
Tensions from the ongoing violence and harassment boiled over on Aug. 23, 1917, and a violent confrontation ensued, leading to the deaths of 17 people – most of them white. During their trials, the Black soldiers didn’t have adequate legal representation and were not allowed appeals.
“Some of the same injustices that these soldiers faced, including racial profiling, police brutality, and inadequate legal representation, are issues that people of color still grapple with today,” Commissioner Ellis said. “This formal acknowledgment by the U.S. government that this injustice took place is a big step toward addressing those current inequities in our modern justice system.”