In one of his final acts in office, President Joe Biden pardoned five people, including the late civil rights leader Marcus Garvey, and commuted the sentences of two others.
“Today, I will exercise my power to pardon five individuals and commute the sentences of two individuals who have demonstrated remorse, recovery, and redemption,” Biden said in a statement. “These pardon recipients have made contributions to improving their communities. made a significant contribution.”
Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Garvey, who died in 1940. The famous civil and human rights leader was convicted of mail fraud in 1923. Sentence commuted in 1927.
The White House noted that “Garvey founded the Black Star Line, the first black-owned shipping line and mode of international travel, and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which celebrated African history and culture.”
Darryl Chambers, a gun violence prevention advocate from Wilmington, Delaware, was among those pardoned by Biden. In 1998, Chambers was convicted of non-violent drug offenses and sentenced to 17 years in prison. After his release from prison, Chambers devoted himself to violence prevention work, including writing the book “Murdertown, U.S.A.”
“Advocates, legislators and his trainees praised his commitment to the Wilmington community, efforts to reduce violence and help young people turn their lives around,” the White House said.
Others pardoned by Joe Biden include immigrant rights advocate Ravi Raghbir from New York, Don Leonard Scott Jr., the first black speaker of the Virginia House of Representatives, and criminal justice advocates previously pardoned by President Clinton By Kemba Smith Pradia.
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