On Sunday, President Joe Biden made a powerful move by posthumously pardoning Marcus Garvey, the Black nationalist who left a lasting mark on figures like Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders.
Back in the 1920s, Garvey was hit with a mail fraud conviction that many believe was just a way to silence his growing voice in the fight for racial pride. Alongside Garvey, Biden also granted pardons to a prominent Virginia lawmaker and advocates pushing for immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, and gun violence prevention.
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Congressional leaders had been calling on Biden to clear Garvey’s name, arguing that his conviction was more about politics than justice. After his conviction, Garvey was sent back to his native Jamaica, where he lived until his passing in 1940. This pardon is a nod to recognizing the legacy of a man who inspired countless others and fought fiercely for his people.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said of Garvey: “He was the first man, on a mass scale and level” to give millions of Black people “a sense of dignity and destiny.”
As President Biden wraps up his term on Monday, it’s still up in the air whether he’ll issue pardons for those who’ve faced criticism or threats from President-elect Donald Trump. Granting preemptive pardons for anyone who might be investigated or prosecuted by the incoming administration would push the limits of presidential power into uncharted territory.
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Biden has already made history by issuing the most pardons and commutations in a single presidency. Just last Friday, he announced that he’s commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 folks locked up for nonviolent drug offenses. He also gave a blanket pardon to his son Hunter, who faced charges related to gun and tax issues.
Additionally, Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 out of the 40 individuals on federal death row, swapping their death sentences for life in prison—this move comes right as Trump, who has been vocal about his support for capital punishment, is stepping into office. During his first term, Trump oversaw an unprecedented wave of executions, with 13 carried out even amid the pandemic.
It’s important to note that a pardon wipes the slate clean, lifting guilt and punishment, while a commutation simply lightens or eliminates the sentence without clearing the wrongdoing.
