Biden Grants Historic Posthumous Pardon to Marcus Garvey and Four Others, Highlighting Racial Justice and Second Chances. President Joe Biden used his final day in offi ce to grant a historic posthumous pardon to Marcus Garvey, a prominent Black nationalist whose influence extended to civil rights leaders like Malcolm X. The pardon comes after decades of advocacy by congressional leaders who argued that Garvey's 1923 mail fraud conviction was politically motivated to silence a rising voice of racial pride. Alongside Garvey, Biden pardoned four other individuals: Ravi Ragbir, an immigrant rights champion; Don Scott, the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates; Kemba Smith Pradia, a criminal justice reform advocate; and Darryl Chambers, a gun violence prevention activist. These pardons reflect Biden's commitment to second chances and racial justice, with the White House emphasizing the significant contributions these individuals have made to their communities.

The pardon for Marcus Garvey carries particular historical significance. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. once described Garvey as "the first man, on a mass scale and level" to instill dignity and purpose in millions of Black individuals. Garvey, who was deported to Jamaica after his conviction and died in 1940, founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and established Black Star, a Black-owned company that was revolutionary for its time. Congressional support for his exoneration was strong, with 21 Democratic members of Congress signing a letter urging Biden to grant clemency. The pardon effectively removes the stigma of his conviction, recognizing the unjust targeting of a leader who championed racial pride and economic empowerment during a deeply segregated era.

Biden's clemency actions extend beyond the Garvey pardon. He also commuted the sentences of two individuals facing life imprisonment for crimes committed in the 1990s. The president has set a record for the most individual pardons and commutations in U.S. history, demonstrating a significant approach to criminal justice reform. Just last Friday, he announced the commutation of sentences for nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Earlier, he had also provided a sweeping pardon for his son Hunter, who faced legal issues related to gun and tax violations. Biden emphasized that these clemency recipients have demonstrated "remorse, rehabilitation, and redemption," highlighting his belief in second chances and individual potential for positive change.

The timing of these pardons is particularly poignant, occurring on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Biden's final day in office. Don Scott, one of the pardoned individuals, exemplifies the transformative power of second chances. After serving seven years in prison for a federal drug conviction, Scott pursued a legal career and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, becoming the first Black speaker of the House in 2024. Other pardoned individuals, like Kemba Smith Pradia, have become advocates for criminal justice reform, arguing that many sentences imposed during the height of the War on Drugs caused immeasurable harm to communities. Biden's actions represent a significant moment of racial reconciliation and a commitment to addressing historical injustices through presidential clemency.