Justice for the 24th
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Call For Action

Clemency

South Texas College of Law Houston and the Houston Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in conjunction with a number of other interested parties will be seeking formal clemency for the soldiers convicted of mutiny and other crimes as a result of the Houston Rebellion.

Spread the word

We hope that you will share the information on this website with family, friends and colleagues to raise awareness of the injustice that permeated Camp Logan and Houston that caused soldiers of the 24th Infantry stationed at Camp Logan to fear for their lives and the series of events that culminated in the execution and imprisonment of these African American U.S. Army soldiers.

Call your senator

Feel free to call or write your Senators to let them know they can correct this injustice. Contact your senator here.

WhoWe Are

W. Gabriel Selassie Iis a historian and Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Northridge. Dr. Selassie has over 20 years of progressive experience in academic and public history, and cultural resource management.

Gabriel earned a Ph.D. in history from the Claremont Graduate University, a masters in African American studies at the University of California at Los Angeles, and a master's degree in public history from the California State University at Dominguez Hills.

Graduate assistants

Nikitha “Nikki” Nikitha
Nikki is a graduate student at the California State University, Northridge.

Dominique Ochoa
Dominique is a graduate student at the California State University, Northridge.

Contributors

South Texas College of Law Houston, Texas
John Haymond, M.A., Independent Historian

Acknowledgements

The project team would like to acknowledge the California State University at Northridge's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Africana Studies for encouragement and resources.

FAQ

  • Why seek clemency now when all of the soldiers are no longer alive?

    Because it’s the right thing to do. No statute of limitations exists on doing the right thing, particularly when correcting an injustice. The convicted soldiers of the 24th Infantry volunteered to serve their country even when the country didn’t provide them with all the rights, privileges and protections guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Justice would have been affording the Soldiers a fair hearing at the time of the trial, but this does not negate the ability of the Congress, the President of the United States in grant clemency today.

  • Who should I contact to support this cause?

    You should contact your U.S. Senator and the White House. Information on how to contact both Branches of government are listed above in the Call to Action.

  • What was the Houston Riot of 1917 and why is it important?

    The Houston Riot of 1917 was a rebellion by soldiers from the all-black 24th Infantry Regiment (Buffalo Soldiers) of the United States Army on August 23, 1917, in Houston, Texas. The rebellion directly resulted from racism and acts of violence perpetrated by Houston's white community and members of the all-white Houston Police Department (HPD) against members of the local black community and black soldiers stationed at Camp Logan.

  • What can I do to raise awareness about the houston riot of 1917

    By spreading the word to your networks and on social media. You can make a presentation in your classrooms or invite a member of our project team to discuss these issues.

  • Who is behind this website?

    Dr. W. Gabriel Selassie I, an Assistant Professor at California State University, Northridge, leads the project team.