Biden pardons revolutionary Marcus Garvey on last full day in office

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President Joe Biden granted a posthumous pardon to civil rights leader Marcus Garvey and pardoned or reduced sentences for about six other people on Sunday, which happened to be his last day in office. This was an 11th-hour moment where he reaffirmed his commitment to focusing on two things he considers key parts of his legacy: showing compassion and having a connection to the Black community.

In the early 1920s, Malcolm X, and South African President Nelson Mandela, were found guilty of mail fraud.

Focusing on rehabilitation and remorse, I have taken the initiative to grant more pardons and commutations as President than any other President in American history.

Garvey's family members have been requesting a pardon for him for nearly two decades, including a recent appeal to Biden shortly after he took office. This occurred during a time when the nation was reexamining its past, following the police killing of George Floyd, which sparked a wave of protests against systemic inequalities. Many activists believe that this movement for change should also involve correcting past injustices, such as Garvey's conviction.

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Garvey served two years of his five-year prison sentence. Then, President Calvin Coolidge had his sentence commuted. However, Garvey was still required to leave the country and was deported to Jamaica.

Legislation addressing police reform and voting rights continues to face resistance from staunch Republican opposition.

For individuals who might face hostility from the incoming Trump administration, their concern is intensified by President-elect Donald Trump and others in his circle's apparent intent to target their political opponents.

Biden now has a tight deadline to issue such pardons, since Trump will take office on Monday at noon, and it's uncertain if Biden will act on it.

Garvey's descendants increased their efforts to clear his name after Biden was elected.

We'll accept what he said as true. My father was a victim of racial injustice more than 100 years ago. He was innocent of any crime. His intention was to improve the status of African Americans and Africans globally.

On Sunday, Biden also pardoned Darryl Chambers, a gun violence prevention advocate who was convicted of a non-violent drug offense back in 1998 and given a 17-year prison sentence. Following his release, Chambers joined a Wilmington, Delaware, nonprofit working to reduce violence and he wrote a book titled "Murder Town, USA."

(Representing the Portsmouth district) was convicted of a nonviolent drug offense in 1994. Upon his release, Scott became an attorney and was eventually elected to the Virginia legislature in 2019, later becoming the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2024. As a U.S. Navy veteran, Scott donated his kidney to a neighbor in 2021.

And he commuted two prisoners' sentences.

He was commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. The White House stated that the clemencies were for people who were serving sentences significantly longer than what they would receive today under current sentencing guidelines.

President Biden has issued the most pardons and commutations of individual cases among all U.S. presidents.