A Bay Area Story of Labor, Justice, and the Courage to Say “No”
Join us at East Brother Beer Co. on Sunday, July 20
We like to say that beer is labor, and we mean it. The good stuff takes time, precision, pride in your tools, and care for the people around you. That’s not just how we brew, it’s how we look at the world. And every once in a while, history gives us a reason to put down our pint and pay attention.
This summer, we invite you to do just that.
We’re proud to be part of Port Chicago Weekend 2025, a Bay Area-wide festival of music, art, and community built around an extraordinary act of resistance that happened right here, less than 20 miles from our brewery in Richmond.
What Happened in July 1944?
During World War II, the U.S. Navy’s segregation policies meant Black sailors were often assigned the most dangerous jobs, like loading live munitions onto ships, with little training and zero regard for safety.
On July 17, 1944, at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, that neglect proved deadly. A massive explosion rocked the Bay, killing 320 men, most of them young Black servicemen. It was the deadliest homefront disaster of WWII.
When the dust settled, 258 Black sailors refused to return to those same unsafe, discriminatory conditions. The Navy responded with threats of execution. Fifty of the men, now known as the Port Chicago 50, stood their ground anyway.
They were charged with mutiny and thrown in prison.
Standing Up—and Standing With Them
One of the people who saw the injustice of the trial was a young NAACP attorney named Thurgood Marshall. He traveled to the Bay Area, sat in the courtroom, and made it clear: this wasn’t about discipline. It was about racism.
Public pressure grew. Support swelled. Eventually, the Port Chicago 50 were released. And the Navy—of all institutions—became the first branch of the federal government to integrate.
The ripple effects of that act of protest helped shape the civil rights movement to come.
Why East Brother Beer Co. Is Getting Involved
We brew in a city built by labor. Richmond is a place where people have worked hard, stood tall, and fought for their place in history, often without recognition.
We believe stories like Port Chicago aren’t just about the past. They’re about who we choose to be now.
That’s why we’re dedicating part of Port Chicago Weekend to honoring the courage of those 50 men, and the 320 who never made it home.
Join Us at the Taproom — Sunday, July 20, 2025
East Brother Beer Co. | Richmond, CA
12 PM – 6 PM
Live Music | Food Trucks | Community Gathering
We’re teaming up with Port Chicago Alliance, a nonprofit working year-round to elevate this history and inspire the next generation to keep fighting for justice.
Come raise a glass with us. Stay for the stories. And take a moment to reflect on what it means to do hard things for the right reasons.
