Memorial Park Conservancy are honored to present Park Conversations: Remembering the Houston “Mutiny and Riots” of August 23, 1917. This free educational exhibition features six onsite audio experiences situated throughout Memorial Park’s Clay Family Eastern Glades. Participants* are encouraged to bring their personal smart phones and headphones and scan the QR codes on the signs. This will allow you to listen to words of descendants and community members who have a personal connection to these events and have used their experience to examine and address them over 100 years later. The self-guided interactive audio exhibition will be available for the public to experience from August 23 through September 26, 2023.
*Parental discretion is advised due to the sensitive nature of the content in the audio exhibit.
Follow the Clay Family Eastern Glades Loop and scan the QR codes at each sign to listen to the audio stories. The audio can be listened to in any order, at your leisure.
1) Jaime González
Community and Equitable Conservation Director at The Nature Conservancy of Texas
Listen to Jaime González as he talks about the origins of Memorial Park’s prairie landscape and the rich diversity of people who have tended this land for millennia. This land is both biodiverse and culturally diverse.
2) Angela Holder
Professor at Houston Community College and Camp Logan Descendant.
Hear Professor Angela Holder’s story, whose great uncle, Corporal Jesse Moore served as a soldier in the 24th Infantry Regiment at Camp Logan. Jesse Moore was amongst the first 13 members of the 24th who were executed for their alleged participation. Please note, this content may not be suitable for younger audiences.
3) Jason Holt Esq.
Researcher and Camp Logan Descendant .
Hear Jason Holt’s story. Jason’s great uncle, Private 1st Class Thomas Coleman Hawkins served as a soldier in the 24th Infantry Regiment at Camp Logan. He was amongst the first 13 soldiers executed for their alleged participation in the events of August 23, 1917. Please note, this content may not be suitable for younger audiences.
4) Catherine Greene Burnett
Vice President of South Texas College of Law Houston
Listen to Professor Catherine Greene Burnett as she identifies the inconsistencies during the court proceedings that led to the soldiers’ convictions following the events of August 23 1917. Hear how law students at the Innocence Clinic have researched some of the root causes of wrongful conviction and how this has continued relevance today. This content may not be suitable for younger audiences.
5) Dru Brenner- Beck
Assistant Professor of Law at the South Texas College of Law Houston.
Listen to Dru Brenner-Beck as she reflects upon the soldiers’ legacy and the importance of honoring their memory through proper recognition of their service and the injustices in their trials. The petition for clemency seeks to right these wrongs by overturning each soldier’s convictions and upgrading their characterization of service to honorable. This content may not be suitable for younger audiences.
6) Dr. Rudy Rasmus
Pastor, Author and Co-Founder of Bread of Life, Inc.
Dr. Rudy Rasmus is a native Houstonian with deep roots in the community. Listen as he shares childhood memories of Memorial Park and reflects on how the area has changed in recent years.
Commemoration Event
The exhibition debuted on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 with a reception at Live Oak Court, in the Clay Family Eastern Glades. Memorial Park Conservancy would like to thank our program partners; Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis, NAACP, Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, South Texas College of Law Houston, County Precinct Four Commissioner Lesley Briones and Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
Catherine Greene Burnett, Council member Sallie Alcorn, Shellye Arnold, Jaime González, Jason Holt Esq., Angela Holder, Council member Abbie Kamin, County Commissioner Lesley Briones, Cale Carter.
Shellye Arnold, President and CEO of Memorial Park Conservancy.
Council member Abbie Kamin and Council member Sallie Alcorn.
Jason Holt Esq., researcher and Camp Logan descendent.
Professor Angela Holder, Professor at Houston Community College and Camp Logan Descendent
County Commissioner Lesley Brione