We’d like to congratulate our colleague Hon. John P. (“Sean”) Coffey on being designated ‘2025 Commemorative Hero’ by the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial.
Sean Coffey’s acceptance speech:
What an honor to be back at the Port Chicago National Memorial. This is truly a sacred place.
Not only because of the tragic loss of so many lives here 81 years ago. But also because of the historic struggle for justice that began right here – a struggle pursued with vigor, love, and commitment for over eight decades
A struggle led by many in our audience, who carried on the righteous work of those who came before you. A struggle that – against all odds – ultimately succeeded one year ago with the exoneration of the 258 young black sailors wrongfully convicted in 1944.
Yes, this is truly a sacred place, and it is an honor to be here.
I made my first visit here last year, three days after Secretary Del Toro signed the orders setting aside the convictions. It was such a happy occasion. I have to be honest, I got all the thanks I would ever need for my role when I got to see the joy on the faces of so many families, friends, and advocates at last year’s event. As a lawyer, you just don’t get that kind of reaction to your work very often.
I was delighted when Rev. McDaniel called a few weeks ago and told me that the Friends of Port Chicago would like to have me back again this year – this time to receive this award.
The praise belongs elsewhere
Thank you for this honor. I am deeply humbled – and my three children are deeply shocked – that any group would bestow on me an award with the word “hero” in it. But I would like to spend my few minutes here to talk about the real heroes of Port Chicago – the citizens who pressed the case for justice when few were listening. And who – with no evidence that anyone would ever listen – continued to beat the drum for justice, for eight decades. And then succeeded!
The real heroes are the sailors themselves, who suffered this rank injustice with quiet humility and who, unfortunately, did not live to see the wrong done to them righted. The real heroes are the family members who pressed to have their loved ones cleared and never let up. I want to say particular thanks to Richard Soublet and Spencer Sykes, who at a critical time in our investigation last year made crystal clear to me that the right result here was exoneration and not a pardon.
The real heroes also include the many advocates, folks like:
- Professor Bob Allen, a man I dearly would have liked to thank in person for his pivotal role in documenting this injustice
- There were so many key leaders of the cause, but I would like to call out Rev. Diana McDaniels, Yulie Padmore, and Jonathan Lee
- Members of the California Congressional delegation
And the many organizations who took up the cause, including:
- The Contra Costa County Bar Association Port Chicago Task Force
- Citizens For Historical Equity
- Allen Temple Baptist Church
- Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church
- Black Employees Collective
- Of course, we cannot forget the early advocates Thurgood Marshall and Eleanor Roosevelt.
And many other heroes I have not mentioned by name.
If I may be permitted a personal indulgence to add one more name. Among the heroes of the Port Chicago story is a brilliant and courageous Navy lawyer, Captain Justin Pilling, who as my executive assistant conducted the in-depth review that spurred me to recommend to Secretary Del Toro that the court-martial findings be set aside. Captain Pilling is one of the unsung champions of the Port Chicago sailors, and one of my personal heroes.
What they, and you, collectively accomplished – getting the Navy finally to give this case the fresh review it had long deserved – was historic. You and they are the real heroes.
To use a football analogy, you did the hard work to get the ball down to the one-yard line. I was just the lawyer who got to draw up the play for Secretary Del Toro to punch that ball into the end zone of justice. We did our part, but it pales in comparison to the decades of effort and advocacy that set the stage for our limited role.
I’d like to thank Secretary Del Toro who, when presented early on with my developing concerns about the Port Chicago courts-martial, told me to follow the facts and the law wherever it took us, without fear or favor. You, Carlos, are a fearless leader of integrity with whom I was so proud to serve. As 78th Secretary of the Navy, you lived by the adage that “it is never too late to do the right thing”. And you did just that for the Port Chicago sailors.
I can share that there were some in Washington who cautioned against disturbing these verdicts, noting that they had been reviewed and reaffirmed in the 1990s. But when Captain Pilling and I dug into the record we learned some uncomfortable truths about how our Navy and our country treated our African American shipmates in the 1940s. The question was, what do we do about it?
I know I speak for Carlos when I say that our team approached this effort believing that:
- Acknowledging that our country has from time to time stumbled on our path to a more perfect union is a strength not a weakness
- Admitting that our Navy failed our Port Chicago shipmates eight decades ago is a strength not a weakness
- And correcting this injustice, even though it took far too long, is a strength not a weakness
I am exceptionally proud that our leadership team had the strength to listen to you, the real heroes of the Port Chicago saga.
Giving hope
If I may close with one final, broader point: What you accomplished here matters beyond Port Chicago.
For me, you renewed my belief in the power of “ordinary” citizens – that is, folks outside of Washington DC – to hold their government to account when it strays from our ideals.
You are an inspiring example of what can be accomplished when citizens band together to right a wrong.
There’s no denying that we currently live in a polarizing time of turmoil and distress in our country. You give me comfort that, if committed citizens like you band together to make their voices heard, we are ultimately going to be ok.
Thank you for what you did for the Port Chicago sailors. Thank you for giving this concerned citizen hope. And thank you for this extraordinary honor.
God bless you, and may God bless our beloved country.