WASHINGTON:US President Joe Biden granted pardons to five individuals on Sunday, just hours before he hands over the presidency to Donald Trump. Among the pardoned was the late civil rights activist Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican-born writer and orator who advocated for African diaspora unity and independence from colonial powers.
Garvey, who passed away in 1940, had been convicted of mail fraud in the United States and sentenced to five years in prison. However, his sentence was commuted by President Calvin Coolidge, and Garvey was later deported back to Jamaica.
Garvey’s impact was significant, as he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which celebrated African history and culture, and the Black Star Line, the first Black-owned international shipping company. His efforts made him an icon of resistance to colonialism and racism, inspiring the Rastafarian movement, which influenced figures like Bob Marley.
Biden’s pardons also included gun violence prevention advocate Darryl Chambers, immigrant rights advocate Ravi Ragbir, Virginia lawmaker Don Scott, and criminal justice reform advocate Kemba Smith Pradia, all of whom had been convicted of non-violent offenses.
This action highlights Biden’s commitment to criminal justice reform and recognition of individuals who have worked to support social causes.
