The Camp Logan Riot of 1917, also known as the Camp Logan Mutiny, was one of the saddest chapters in the history of American race relations.

During World War I, a military encampment was established just west of downtown in the area of what is now Memorial Park.  When African Americans from the predominately black Twenty-fourth United States Infantry Regiment were sent to guard the construction of the camp in the summer of 1917, the soldiers immediately encountered a hostile environment. At this time, Houston had strict Jim Crow laws in place which enforced racial discrimination. Many of the soldiers in this battalion were from northern states where they were accustomed to more equal treatment as servicemen. When faced with forced segregation, mounting tensions grew, erupting in an incident on August 23, 1917. Houston police officers arrested and assaulted some black soldiers, and in response to this event, many soldiers from the camp mutinied and marched to Houston. A rapid escalation of events led to the deaths of four soldiers and 15 white civilians.

The soldiers were tried at three court-martials for mutiny. A total of 118 enlisted black soldiers were indicted- 110 were found guilty, 19 were executed, and 63 received life sentences, making this the largest military court-marital in U.S. history.