U.S. Army overturns convictions of 110 Black soldiers in 1917 Houston riot at Camp Logan [Houston Chronicle]

LilBiFurious@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 95 points –
houstonchronicle.com

"More than a century has passed since 110 Black soldiers stationed at Camp Logan were convicted of mutiny, murder, and assault in the 1917 Houston Riot, with 19 of them executed at Fort Sam Houston. Now those convictions have been overturned."

"It can't bring them back, but it gives them peace," said Angela Holder, whose great-uncle, Cpl. Jesse Moore, was one of the executed soldiers. "Their souls are at peace."

Archive link: https://archive.is/JEtyF#selection-1009.0-1023.171

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Souls as peace bullshit how you know?! Do they have a military-grade Ouija board? Why even bother.

I tend to find there are people that like symbolism, dislike it, and that are indifferent to it.

I'm with you in the second category, but I guess it brings the families of these folks some comfort or gets it into the history books... Fair enough

It would be one thing if that quote came from the army, patting themselves on the back about how they're making everything alright now. But it's not from them, it's from someone who was upset about the injustice done to her family.

Sure, you can criticize her words and not believe that it actually brings peace to the wrongfully accused, but it seems that it has brought peace to her. Is that not enough on its own?

If that's not enough for you, what about the actual material benefits that are now available to their descendants?

The decision, reached weeks ago by Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, restores each of the soldiers' individual rights, privileges and properties lost — their descendants may now be eligible for benefits.

Why even bother.

It's important to many, including the descendants of those wrongly convicted.