United States President Joe Biden has made history by granting a new set of presidential pardons this Sunday, further solidifying his record as the president with the most amnesties and sentence commutations.
New Pardons and Their Recipients
The recent batch of pardons includes notable individuals such as Don Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, who was convicted of a non-violent drug crime in 1994. Another notable pardon recipient is Marcus Garvey, a black nationalist who was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s and is known for influencing civil rights activists like Malcolm X. Garvey’s pardon is posthumous.
Advocates for Social Justice
Biden’s pardons also extend to prominent advocates for social justice causes. Ravi Ragbir, a prominent migrant rights advocate, is among the recipients. Darryl Chambers, an activist working to prevent gun violence, has also been pardoned. Additionally, Kemba Smith Pradia, a prisoner rights advocate, has received a pardon as part of Biden’s efforts to promote prison reform.
A Record Number of Pardons
President Biden has expressed his commitment to using the power of pardon to address systemic injustices and promote community rehabilitation. According to Biden, “The beneficiaries have made important contributions to the improvement of their communities.” By granting more individual pardons and commutations of sentences than any other president in American history, Biden seeks to deliver on his promise of reform and rehabilitation.