Fort Lawton riot facts for kids
Headstone of Pvt. Guglielmo Olivotto at Fort Lawton military cemetery, Seattle
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| Date | August 14, 1944 |
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| Location | Fort Lawton, Washington, United States (U.S.) |
| Participants | United States Army soldiers and Italian prisoners of war (POW) |
| Outcome | 1 Italian POW killed 28 U.S. soldiers convicted and imprisoned |
The Fort Lawton riot was a serious event that happened in August 1944. It began with a fight between American soldiers and Italian prisoners of war (POWs). This happened at Fort Lawton in Seattle, Washington, during World War II. After the fight, an Italian prisoner named Guglielmo Olivotto was found dead.
Because of this, 43 American soldiers were put on trial by the military. All of these soldiers were African Americans.
What Happened After the Riot?
Years later, in 2005, a book called On American Soil was published. This book helped to show that there had been a big mistake in the trials. The U.S. Army Board for Correction of Military Records agreed. They found that the lawyer for the government, Leon Jaworski, had made a "really big error."
Clearing Their Names
Because of this, all the soldiers' convictions were overturned. This means they were no longer considered guilty. Later, President George W. Bush signed a special law. This law allowed the Army to give back pay to the soldiers or their families. It was a way to make up for the unfairness they had faced.
