On his last full day in office, President Joe Biden took significant action in the realm of clemency.
In a series of high-profile pardons, President Joe Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Garvey among others while also commuting two sentences, Fox News reported.
Marcus Garvey, a notable Black nationalist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, was posthumously pardoned for a 1923 mail fraud charge that many scholars and advocates argue was unjust.
This pardon addresses a historical wrong, emphasizing the influence Garvey had in promoting Black pride and economic independence in the early 20th century.
Garvey's notable initiatives included the creation of the Black Star Line, a shipping company intended to foster African-American trade and return to Africa. His early visions of Black self-reliance and economic autonomy have echoed throughout generations, solidifying his status as a pioneering leader of civil rights.
The White House remarked on Garvey's enduring impact: "Notably, Mr. Garvey created the Black Star Line, the first Black-owned shipping line and method of international travel, and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which celebrated African history and culture. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. described Mr. Garvey as ‘the first man of color in the history of the United States to lead and develop a mass movement’. Advocates and lawmakers praise his global advocacy and impact, and highlight the injustice underlying his criminal conviction."
Aside from Marcus Garvey, President Biden also pardoned four living individuals. President Biden granted clemency to Darryl Chambers, Ravidath "Ravi" Ragbir, an immigrant rights advocate convicted of a nonviolent offense in 2001, Don Leonard Scott, Jr., and Kemba Smith Pradia, a criminal justice reform advocate pardoned for a 1994 drug offense, based on their profound personal reforms and community contributions.
President Bill Clinton had previously commuted Pradia's sentence in 2000, acknowledging her efforts toward rehabilitation and advocacy against harsh sentencing practices.
This reflects an ongoing trend wherein different administrations recognize and rectify overly punitive justice penalties through acts of clemency.
President Biden commuted the sentences of Michelle West and Robin Peoples. Michelle, who had served a life sentence for a string of crimes, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances between 1987 and 1993, earned recognition for her remarkable rehabilitation over three decades of incarceration. Robin Peoples, who had served a 111-year sentence for crimes including bank robbery, gained recognition for his exemplary behavior and leadership in prison.
These actions came just before President Biden's live farewell address from the Oval Office on January 15, 2025. During this address, Biden emphasized the importance of second chances and redemption, themes central to his use of presidential clemency powers.
"America is a country built on the promise of second chances," stated President Biden. "As President, I have used my clemency power to make that promise a reality by issuing more individual pardons and commutations than any other President in U.S. history. Today, I am exercising my clemency power to pardon 5 individuals and commute the sentences of 2 individuals who have demonstrated remorse, rehabilitation, and redemption. These clemency recipients have each made significant contributions to improving their communities."
These latest pardons and commutations reflect President Biden's commitment to corrective justice and community restoration. They also underscore a broader shift towards more compassionate justice policies, which have seen support across multiple administrations. Marcus Garvey's pardon, in particular, marks a significant historical rectification and symbolizes ongoing efforts to address past racial injustices.
