OAKLAND, Calif. — Actor David Ramsey, best known for his starring roles across the Arrowverse television franchise as well as Blue Bloods, Dexter, and The West Wing, will appear at the Oakland Museum of California on Saturday, July 11, for a special screening of the Morgan Freeman-produced film Mutiny and a live panel discussion exploring one of Contra Costa County’s most significant civil rights stories.
Presented by the Port Chicago Alliance in partnership with the Oakland Museum of California, Mutiny at Port Chicago: Black Resistance and Redemption is an official California 175 / America 250 commemorative program recognizing the 80th anniversary of the U.S. Navy’s historic desegregation and the enduring national legacy of the Port Chicago Sailors.
Ramsey, who portrayed one of the Port Chicago 50 Sailors in Mutiny, will join Congresswoman Lateefah Simon and former California State Senator Roderick Wright for a discussion examining the lasting impact of the Port Chicago protest, the Bay Area advocates who preserved the story for decades, and the movement that culminated in the U.S. Navy’s 2024 exoneration of the Port Chicago 50.
Hosted by two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Dayvee Sutton, the program also includes welcome remarks by NAACP leaders Cynthia Adams and Antwanisha Williamson, a screening of Mutiny, and a live performance of The Port Chicago Anthem by vocalist Nayeli Román.
The story of the Port Chicago Sailors remains one of Contra Costa County’s most significant contributions to American civil rights history. The July 11 program invites residents to revisit that legacy and its enduring national impact.
The Port Chicago disaster and subsequent protest transformed a Bay Area tragedy into a national civil rights turning point. Championed by civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall and supported by over 100,000 Americans, the Port Chicago story helped build the momentum that culminated in the U.S. Navy’s historic desegregation in 1946.
“The Port Chicago Sailors served their country with honor while demanding to be treated with the dignity and rights they deserved,” said Yulie Padmore, Executive Director of the Port Chicago Alliance. “As we commemorate both America’s 250th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the Navy’s desegregation, we recognize their courage in challenging an unequal system and helping usher in one of the most significant civil rights reforms in American military history.”
The July 11 program serves as the opening event of Port Chicago Weekend, a series of commemorative programs taking place July 17–19 across the East Bay. Additional events include the National Park Service’s annual remembrance ceremony at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, the Sunset Salute overlooking San Francisco Bay, a free community screening of the Academy Award-winning film Glory at Concord’s Veranda Luxe, and special programming aboard the historic SS Red Oak Victory.
Event Information
- Mutiny at Port Chicago: Black Resistance and Redemption
- Saturday, July 11, 2026 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- James Moore Theater
- Oakland Museum of California
- 1000 Oak Street Oakland, CA 94607
- Tickets: $10
For tickets and additional information, visit PortChicagoWeekend.org .
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